ITC Calls For Single TV Regulator

The ITC’s 1996 Annual Report and Accounts were published today. In his introduction to the report, the Commission’s chairman, Sir Robin Biggam, said that the debate surrounding a new single TV regulator must be continued this year. “The responsibility of the ITC to deliver effective and sensitive regulation is high, with major television players increasingly part of media groups with significant participation in world markets,” he continues. This environment will need “some rationalisation of broadcasting regulators so that a single regulator looks over issues of content and the terms on which services are made available to the public.”

The report includes a review of commercial TV. This found that total revenue for the commercial TV sector in 1996 amounted to £4,164 million, an increase of 14% on 1995. Ad revenue came in at £2,429m, up 7%: of this, ITV’s share fell by 2% points to 72%; C4 remained static at 20% while cable and satellite’s share rose from 6.3% to 8.1%.

Subscription income, both from individual subscribers and cable operators who pay programme licensees for the right to broadcast their programme services, was the second largest source of commercial TV revenue. This represented 25% of the total, compared with 21% in 1995. Total subscription income amounted to £1,045 million in 1996, an increase of 33% year-on-year. This growth, although still high, has slowed from the 45% recorded in 1995.

Total sponsorship income increased, but still remained comparatively low. It amounted to £31 million in 1996, a 24% increase year-on-year.

Income from the sale of goods, principally by home shopping channels, has risen significantly over the last three years, from £27 million in 1994 to £80 million last year.

ITC: 0171 306 7743