Spending Criticisms – ITV Responds

Responding to Michael Grade’s latest comments on the Channel 4 funding arrangements, the Chairman of ITV, Leslie Hill, said: “There is no ‘black hole’ in ITV’s spending as Michael Grade alleges”.

“ITV’s network budget for 1993 was £514 million. It has grown every year: £530m for 1994, £550m in 1995 and has been approved at £570m for 1996. In addition there is a considerable spend on regional programmes by the individual companies. It is the Independent Network Centre which asks for the budget it considers necessary to provide a high quality schedule, and the Centre has always been given the full amount for which it has asked”.

“Unlike Channel 4, the ITV licensees pay £350m a year to the Government. The ITV licensees would like to see these payments reduced, or ended just as Mr Grade would like the Channel 4 funding arrangement ended. However, both organisations entered into these agreements openly, knowing that they could not be altered, in Channel 4’s case until 1997, and in ITV’s 1999”.

ITV Network Centre: 0171 843 8122