ITV Applies For Judicial Review Of News At Ten Decision

ITV today confirmed that it is making an application for a judicial review of the Independent Television Commission’s decision concerning the scheduling of the ITV Nightly News. Last week the regulatory body stuck by its decision that the news bulletin should be moved to an earlier time in the schedule in order to improve falling audiences on the channel (see ITC Says ITV Must Reschedule Nightly News).

Today’s application by ITV coincided with the release of the full text of the ITC’s directive. In it the Commission states the licensee conditions under which the directive was issued.

It says that as ITV did not fulfil the requirements imposed upon it by the ITC in regard to falling audiences after the demise of the News At Ten it has directed the rescheduling of the Nightly News from 11pm each weekday to an earlier time when it is more accessible to viewers, with effect from 4 December 2000.

ITV must submit an outline of its proposed rescheduling by 18 August 2000. Details of the consequential impact of the moving of the Nightly News programme on other key aspects of the schedule, including the scheduling of regional news headlines and the redistribution of any regional half hour slots displaced by the moving of the Nightly News, must be submitted to the Commission by 29 September 2000.

According to the ITC, “failure to comply with this direction shall be a breach of the licence”. ITV is making no further comment as legal proceedings have now begun.

ITC: 020 7306 7743 ITV: 020 7843 8000