It was announced in the Commons yesterday by Gerald Kaufman, chairman of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, that the group is unanimously opposed to ITV’s proposal to scrap the News At Ten. The group voiced opposition to the move late last month (see Newsline), its criticism being that ITV is putting advertiser revenue ahead of the interests of the Network’s viewers. It also claimed that the proposal was based on a ‘hope or hunch’ that it would increase viewing figures.
The broadcaster announced its intention to move the news bulletin at the beginning of September (see Newsline), proposing to replace it with an early and then late night news bulletin instead.
In the commons yesterday, Kaufman accused the ITV of disregarding its ‘cloth-capped, middle-aged’ viewers in favour of attracting a younger and more metropolitan audience. ITV bosses were accused of abandoning working class audiences in favour of trendy, middle-class viewers.
A survey carried out by Pace Microtechnology, the results of which were released last month (see Newsline) found that the majority of respondents wanted the bulletin to stay in its place.
However, the Independent Television Commission will ultimately decide whether the move will be allowed to go ahead. It recently brought its consultation period to a close (see Newsline), and it is expected to announce it decision after 19 November. The Select Committee are to strongly advise the ITC that it should not allow the move.
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