ITC Allows ITV To Reschedule Regional Programmes

The Independent Television Commission (ITC) has given ITV broadcasters the opportunity to reschedule their regional programmes in order to push up audience figures. The Commission has decided that the ITV companies may move regional programmes which currently air at 5:30pm, against BBC1’s Neighbours, to earlier in the afternoon. The decision follows poor ratings for the programmes, and the regional news bulletin at 6:00pm, after the ITV Network’s reorganisation of the evening schedule and the loss of the News At Ten (see ITC Agrees To News At Ten Move).

ITV is hoping that by scheduling a networked entertainment programme in the 5:30pm slot, a greater number of viewers will tune in and continue to watch the channel as the regional news starts at 6:00pm. It is also hoped that scheduling the regional programmes earlier in the afternoon will help to attract larger audiences, as it removes direct competition with popular soap Neighbours on BBC1.

The ITC’s chairman, Sir Robin Biggam, has already expressed his concern over the audience levels for ITV’s regional output, saying that regional news magazines have suffered as result of the new schedule (see ITC Concerned About ITV’s Regional Programming). A stipulation by the ITC of ITV moving its regional programmes is that a half-hour slot, between 7pm and 11pm, must be given to regional output at least once a week.

The relaxation of the rules by the TV watchdog is, to some degree, a temporary measure, as all the changes to the schedule since the News At Ten was axed will be considered in an ITC review next March. If the Commission is not satisfied that the new schedule is meeting all of ITV’s licence requirements, it could force ITV to revert to its old schedule (see Smith Urges ITC To Perform Rigorous Review Of New ITV Schedule).

Independent Television Commission: 0171 255 3000 ITV Network Centre: 0171 843 8000