ITV Answers BBC Future Debate

In a report launched yesterday by the chief executive of London Weekend Television, Greg Dyke, the Independent Television Association gave its response to the Government’s green paper on the future of the BBC. The report expressed fears that British television is losing its international reputation for quality because of an abundance of imported American programmes.

The association has called for equality of treatment with cable and satellite channels, saying that they too should be required to provide 51% programming of European origin.

Other points outlined in the ITV paper included;

• A call for tighter reins on media ownership – citing cases like News International which owns 35% of the British national press and 50% of BSkyB
• BBC transmitters should be privatised to provide competition for the Independent Broadcasting Authority’s transmitting arm, National Transcommunications
• The next BBC charter should prohibit any participation in commercial ventures in the UK, such as UK Gold