Small ITV Companies Retain Subsidy

After more than a year of debate the five smallest commercial broadcasters ie. Ulster, Border, Grampian, Westcountry and Channel, have secured an agreement to continue to receive the national ITV network at a discount for the next four years, although they will still have to pay 8.5% more than previously – it had benn muted that without the continuation of the discount these small broadcasters could not survive.

The subsidy, introduced in 1991 by the ITC, was seen as ‘price equalisation’ because some costs were common to all ITV companies and therefore fell disproportionately on the small companies. The amount of subsidy varies, although it is estimated to account for approximately half of the cost of their full share of the network schedule.

Prior to yesterdays agreement it had been suggested that the smaller companies should become ‘associate’ members of the ITVA.

ITV Network Centre: 071 843 8000