Ofcom Did Not Approve ITV’s Cut In Hours Of Kids Programming

Ofcom has said that ITV did not seek permission to cut the number of hours of children’s programming on its flagship channel from eight hours per week to five.

The broadcaster released a statement late yesterday saying it had been given the go-ahead by the regulator. “Having taken into account the opinion of Ofcom, ITV confirms that children’s output across 2007 will average around five hours of programming per week across ITV1 hours,” said the statement (see Ofcom Gives Green Light To Less Kids TV For ITV1).

An Ofcom spokesman rebuffed the claims, saying: “ITV neither sought Ofcom’s approval, nor did we give it. Ofcom is required to offer guidance, and we made it clear that Ofcom expects ITV to remain a significant commissioning force in children’s television with a range of programmes that suit a variety of children’s tastes and needs.”

ITV unsuccessfully approached the communications watchdog last summer to lobby for a significant reduction in the amount of children’s programming on ITV1.

The decision was seen as a blow to the broadcaster, which had been hoping to boost ITV1’s audience figures on weekday afternoons by getting rid of its CiTV programming and replacing it with daytime output aimed at a wider adult audience (see Ofcom Rejects ITV Cutting CiTV Programming).

ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com Ofcom: 020 7981 3040 www.ofcom.org.uk