TV Watchdog Blasts ITV In Annual Report
The ITC has taken a parting swipe at ITV’s increasingly “derivative” programming in its final annual report before handing over the regulation of the TV industry to Ofcom at the end of this year (see Ofcom To Be Fully Operational By December This Year).
The TV watchdog uses it report to criticise the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster, claiming that its performance during 2002 was “polarised” in the current affairs and factual areas and that its output that was “less distinguished” and “more derivative.”
The ITC also attacked ITV’s decision to broadcast Coronation Street four nights a week, arguing that the weekday peak-time schedules are already dominated by soaps and popular factual programmes, which it claims are “rarely challenging.”
However, on a brighter note, the ITC singled out Channel 4 for its continued commitment to public service broadcasting, stating that: “Despite serious financial pressures, Channel 4 still made by far the greatest contribution to diversity of any of the commercial public service broadcasters in 2002.”
The report also recognises that 2002 was a difficult year for the broadcasting market, but reassures the industry that the TV market has remained remarkably resilient. Looking ahead, the ITC points to Carlton and Granada’s proposed merger (see ITV Merger To Be Investigated By Competition Commission), which it claims could represent the biggest shake up at ITV since the competitive tenders for franchises in the early 1990s.
The ITC also notes the increased pressures that commercial broadcasters must tackle in the face of declining ad revenues. According to the report, there was a 7% year on year decline in total net advertising revenue, which fell to £3.22 billion in 2002, down from £3.47 billion in 2001.
Despite the continued pressures of the advertising recession the report reveals that there was actually a small increase in the total number of staff employed within ITV, Channel 4 and Channel Five compared with 2001. However, despite playing lip service to the language of equal opportunities the employment of women at the broadcasters remained static at 16.5%.
ITC: 0207 306 7743 www.itc.org.uk
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