Regionality Safe Under Communications Bill Says Jowell

Tessa Jowell has restated the importance of regional production in the light of future consolidation among the ITV companies.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport was speaking yesterday at the Social Market Foundation Seminar on Public Service Broadcasting. She said: “In a world dominated by large companies with EU, US or global identities, public service broadcasting ensures national and regional production. This is good for jobs, but also good for national and regional cultures.”

She added that there had been speculation that future ITV consolidation would mean a move away from regional identities and commitments. “There is a view that Government, in allowing non-EU ownership, would encourage that tendency even further as global players would then import globally produced programmes into the UK market.” she said, continuing: “Let me take this opportunity to stress how inaccurate those views are. Owners of Channel 3 licences knew what their regional commitments were when they took the licences on. Any future buyer will know what they are required to do.”

Jowell went on to list the expectations for regional broadcasting included in the draft Communications Bill. These include targets agreed with Ofcom for regional programming and/or regional production; targets for Channel 3 for programmes produced in the regions for the regions and a requirement for Ofcom to publish a review of the regional obligations in each Channel 3 licence whenever ownership changes hands.

The minister concluded: “Regional character matters. We will look to Ofcom to defend it with vigour.”

DCMS: 020 7211 6200 www.culture.gov.uk

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