C4, Five and ITV welcome Ofcom recommendations
Channel 4, ITV and Five are all pleased with the recommendations set out in Ofcom’s Public Service Broadcasting blueprint, which was published earlier today (see Ofcom rejects top-slicing the BBC’s funding).
Channel 4’s chief executive Andy Duncan has welcomed Ofcom’s proposals to create a new commercial public service broadcaster, moulded around C4.
Duncan said that Ofcom’s idea to potentially partner Channel 4 with BBC Worldwide would create “an exciting new organisation, combining strong brands, content and distribution”.
He said: “We welcome Ofcom’s very thorough report, which makes the recommendations needed to respond to the ‘huge changes brought about by the transition to the digital era’.
“Ofcom strongly endorses the value of public service broadcasting, the need for competition with the BBC and the central role of a publicly-owned Channel 4.
“We look forward to further conversations with the BBC and Government to move this forward, so that we, as a country, can move from the words to actions,” he added.
Meanwhile, ITV also welcomed Ofcom’s recommendation to “free-up” the commercial broadcaster’s current PSB obligations.
An ITV spokesperson said: “The whole free-to-air PSB sector is facing unprecedented structural changes and the commercial sector has to contend with the recessions as well. Ofcom’s report today demonstrates that it understands these difficulties and is working with all the players to find short and long-term solutions.
“So far as ITV is concerned, Ofcom has concluded that ITV regional news is unsustainable in its current form after 2010, as we will now be studying the detail of its progressive proposals for the delivery of a sustainable regional news service from 2011.”
Dawn Airey, Five’s chair and executive chairman, added: “It’s good to see Ofcom recognising the contribution Five makes and can continue to make in public service broadcasting – whether as an independent commercial player or as a partner in a new body that also includes Channel 4.
Ofcom: 020 7981 3040 www.ofcom.org.uk Channel Four: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv