News At Ten Conflict Shows Need For Single Regulator, Says ISBA

The decision given yesterday by the BBC to move its evening news bulletin to 10pm (see BBC To Broadcast News At Ten) where it will directly conflict with ITV’s reinstated bulletin in the new year (see News At Ten To Return To ITV) has provoked renewed calls from ISBA for a single broadcast regulator.

“The head to head scheduling of the news by the country’s two leading channels disadvantages the viewers, the very customers of the commercial sector’s primary funders, the advertisers,” said ISBA director general John Hooper. “The ensuing conflict is a clear indication of the disconnection between the BBC’s board of governors and the ITC.”

The BBC’s decision is thought to be a cause of “misgivings” for the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Chris Smith, while ITV has accused the corporation of betraying its public service values.

ISBA feels that the issue only serves to highlight the need for the BBC and commercial sectors to be brought under the control of a single regulator. “The DCMS must address this problem urgently if it is to safeguard the interests of both the viewer and the commercial sector’s advertiser-funders into the future,” concluded Hooper.

ISBA: 020 7499 7502

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