World Cup Coverage Update

Full details of ITV’s World Cup 2nd phase Matches are available in Minefield- coverage of the quarter finals matches is still being discussed between the BBC and ITV, dependent on which teams go through.

It is very probable that should Ireland win tonight’s game against Holland, that ITV will cover their next phase, which would be against Brazil or the United States.

ITV HAS QUALITY FUTURE IN MULTIMEDIA AGE

Leslie Hill, chairman of ITV, speaking at the European Audiovisual conference in Brussels on Friday, predicted that ITV’s quality and popularity mean it will continue to be successful, even in the multi-channel, multi-media age. He said that there were 5 key approaches which would stimulate its success:

• Dynamic business management in an environment which encourages an entrepeneurial spirit

• Securing a more flexible approach to government regulation to allow television the freedom to sustain high quality services

• Placing original production at the top of the list of audiovisual activities to encourage creative talent to flourish

• A long term perspective in European television to ensure that future generations will inherit quality television services

• Progressively reviewing the burden of Government taxes on revenue of terrestrial operators to ensure that ‘free’ TV continues to be adequately financed

With regard to Europe, he warned; “The single market does not operate in Europe because of the bewildering array of media ownership regulations throughout the European Union. Until we free up ownership regulations across Europe in the way that the UK has done, we will not have the conditions we need to compete globally.”