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ITC Proposes Protection For ITV Regional Programming

ITC Proposes Protection For ITV Regional Programming

The Independent Television Commission (ITC) published proposals today relating to the future of regional programming on ITV. They form part of the programme of research and consultation on the future of public service broadcasting on commercial free-to-air channels launched last month (see ITC To Launch Public Service Broadcasting Debate).

Despite the fact that more programmes for people living in the regions have been made than ever before since the new Channel 3 licences were awarded in 1993, the proposals are very timely. Both the ITC’s criticisms of ITN’s performance since changing its evening news schedule (see “Nannying” ITC Awaits ITV Proposal To Raise News Audiences) and its appraisal of ITV’s performance last year (see ITC Publishes Performance Review For ITV’s Dramatic Year) highlighted regional programming as a cause for concern.

The proposals cover issues such as the amount of money dedicated to the production of regional programmes, the number of peaktime slots they are shown in and commitment to quality and diversity.

Key ITC Proposals For The Future Of ITV Regional Programming
  • Redefining licensees’ programme commitments to allow more flexibility and creativity, reducing the programme categories to which minimum amounts of time must be allocated to three: news, current affairs and ‘other’.
  • Standardising the minimum time allocation for regional programmes across all regions. Some overall decrease might be acceptable in return to a commitment for higher production values, or for a commitment to exclude repeats and co-productions from the minimum time allocation. Requiring a minimum number of slots for regional programmes in and around peak time (6pm to 10.30pm), which must be strongly regional in character.
  • Regional programme budgets to be held in real terms at broadly the amounts recognised at licence renewal.
  • Maintaining and, if necessary, strengthening the independent role of each licensee’s board and management so that where licensees are in common ownership, they still have a separate identity, responsibility and authority.
  • Requiring the licensees to consult the ITC on an annual public statement of the regional programme service they expect to provide in the year ahead. The licensees’ boards should monitor and respond to viewer opinion in the region.
  • Ensuring that a high minimum proportion of regional programmes continue to be made in each region, with all licensees having the capacity either to produce a full range of programmes in-house, or commissioned from locally based independents.
  • Expecting licensees to produce or commission programmes of a network quality on a scale commensurate with their size

Presenting the proposals, ITC chief executive Peter Rogers said: “The ITC believes that regional and national identities across the UK are stronger than ever, and that viewers identify with, and wish to be informed on, aspects of local life, particularly with the introduction of devolved assemblies and Government policies to strengthen regionalism.”

The proposals are available in full from the ITC information office or at www.itc.org.uk

Independent Television Commission: 020 7306 7743

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