ITV

What is ITV?

Independent Television (ITV) was the UK's first commercial television network.

In addition to the flagship terrestrial service ITV1, the ITV network includes ITV2, ITV News, CiTV and ITV.com.

ITV operates 15 individual regional licences, each reflecting regional variations in consumer demand and identity. Twelve of the ITV licences are owned by ITV plc with the remainder being owned by SMG (Scotland), Channel TV (Channel Islands) and Ulster TV (Northern Ireland).


Background

The ITV network has historically been owned by a number of individual companies, each administering services for channel three on a regional basis.

The first 'ITV' franchises were awarded in 1954 by the Independent Television Authority (ITA), in London, the Midlands and the North of England. The Broadcasting Act 1990 led to a major re-organisation of the networks' licence obligations and the bidding process, leading to the demise of many well-known channel three licence holders, such as Thames Television.

The Act also lifted the restriction on companies holding multiple franchises. By 2003, all the franchises, except those in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, were held by two companies: Carlton and Granada.

The two companies attempted to merge twice during the 1990s, but were frustrated by legal provisions banning any one ITV company from controlling more than 15 per cent of the total terrestrial TV audience or holding more than one London franchise.

This block was removed by the Communications Act 2003, and in October 2003, the Government signalled that it would not block a merger. Arrangements were completed by the end of January 2004, and on February 2 2004, shares in ITV plc began trading.

Since the 1990 Act, the ITV network has expanded beyond the terrestrial channel three slot: ITV2 launched in 1998 and the ITV News Channel followed. 1998 also saw the launch of the ITV digital channel ONDigital (later ITV Digital). The collaboration between Carlton and Granada collapsed in 2002.


Controversies

The consolidation of ITV into a single company does not contravene the basic principle of the network's founding, that there should be no monopoly in commercial broadcasting, because a vast range of other commercial channels in competition to ITV and the BBC have emerged since the 1980s.

Nonetheless, there were many debates during the passage of the Communications Act expressing concern that a Carlton-Granada merger would reduce region-specific output and lead to the concentration of TV production resources in London, at the expense of the regions.

It was also feared that the removal of ownership restrictions would lead to British domestic channels being bought up by foreign companies less concerned with quality content than making money. Therefore, ITV remains subject to extensive 'public service' requirements.

However, ITV has increasingly been accused of 'dumbing down' its content. Until the advent of satellite TV, ITV and the BBC competed on relatively even terms for 'serious' news and documentary audiences, but in the 1990s, ITV's prime time included less of this material. The decision to shift the News at Ten to a later slot in 2000, reversed in January 2001, was seen as particularly symptomatic because it was justified on the grounds of allowing the channel to show more films.

The collapse of the ITV Digital network was highly controversial. As a result of its failure, ITV was left facing crippling debts both from the huge launch costs and from the associated advertising blitz to try and rescue the project.

A major fallout of the collapse was the consequent loss of sponsorship deals for the Nationwide Football League. With ITV Digital still owing, and unable to honour, £178.5 million to the Football League, many clubs were left facing bankruptcy.


Statistics

ITV1 is the most popular commercial television channel in Britain, attracting an average audience of 45 million people every week

ITV1 has the largest programme budget of any commercial channel in Europe, currently at around £1 billion

ITV is required to produce 104 hours a year of religious programming, 365 hours of network news and 520 hours of children's programming

Statistics 1 to 3: (Source: ITV.com)


Quotes

"I believe in Independent Television in Britain because I believe in independence, because I believe in television and because I believe in Britain."

Sir Robert Fraser, first ITA Director General

"ITV seemed to be saying to the cultivated minority, 'We've won the mugs. Television is not for you. It is for them.'"

Peter Black, 1972