ITV Set To Reduce Public Service Role

A leaked Ofcom blueprint suggests that ITV may be allowed to reduce its public service commitments, saving the company up to £40 million a year.

If the proposals go ahead ITV will be able to reduce its regional news output, cut back on its current affairs programmes and halve its regional programming in England and Wales, according to a report on MediaGuardian.co.uk.

This comes just months after Ofcom warned that public service programming could become unsustainable in the near future, following hints in April that it may allow major commercial broadcasters to drop their obligations to such content (see Ofcom Warns Public Service Programming Could Be Unsustainable).

However, a spokesman for Ofcom told the Guardian: “No decision has been made yet with regards to ITV’s request to reduce its regional news production.”

The leaked document, produced by the media regulator for the second stage of its review of public service broadcasting (see Ofcom Begins Second Review Of PSB In UK), also reveals plans to make the BBC give its excess licence fee money to Channel 4.

Channel 4 has been arguing for £100 million of licence fee money to support its public service broadcasting role, while the BBC has maintained it should be able to keep its “unique link” with the public.

Ofcom has rejected the BBC’s claim and supports Channel 4’s need for public subsidy, though says it will only need around £40 million in the medium term, according to reports in the Guardian.

However, an Ofcom spokesman said: “no decision has yet been made about the future funding of public service broadcasting in the UK.”

Ofcom: 020 7981 3040 www.ofcom.org.uk