The Stage

Ofcom go-ahead to halve ITV regional non-news

Published Tuesday 8 February 2005 at 14:35 by Liz Thomas

Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has recommended that ITV should focus on key areas of drama, original production and news but has stood by its proposals to allow the network to halve its non-news regional programming in England from three hours a week.

The plans put forward in its final report on the future of public service broadcasting allow ITV to cut religious, children’s and documentary programmes to 1.5 hours per week but stipulate it should increase high-quality programming produced in the regions such as drama and current affairs programmes.

The original proposals to allow ITV to cut back its regional commitments were met with widespread dismay by MPs and broadcasting experts over the potential loss of work in the regions. The watchdog has now announced its plans to increase to 50% the quota of productions the network must make outside London. The report said: “This represents more than a £40 million additional spend outside of London from 2006 and beyond.”

As part of its commitment to regional Britain, ITV had confirmed proposals to introduce a £9 million Production Partnership Fund in order to support companies outside of the capital.

However, Bectu spokesperson Sharon Elliot said Ofcom’s suggestions were a loss to programming diversity and would put at least 300 jobs at risk. She added: “The regulator’s decision to give the go-ahead to ITV to cut its non-news output in the English regions by half is a death blow to regional programming across the country. In-house features production for regional audiences is unlikely to survive today’s announcement.”

The regulator also said there was no immediate case for direct public funding of Channel 4, despite claims by chief executive Andy Duncan that it faces a deficit of £100 million year by 2009. However Ofcom said consideration should be given for potential funding to aid the station’s costs in the run-up to digital switch-over.

The report said: “Channel 4 should develop further its proposals for self-help including cost savings, commercial ventures and alliances.”