A group of Bafta members are demanding ITV's executive chairman Michael Grade resigns from his vice-presidency of the academy, following ITV's plans to launch the National Movie Awards.

According to Broadcast, Bafta chief operating officer Kevin Price and chairman Hilary Bevan Jones have been sent a letter from the group stating that the prize-giving will be rival to the Baftas, and believe it creates a conflict of interest.

The National Movie Awards will take place in September at the Royal Festival Hall, and be broadast on ITV1.

A spokesman for Bafta said electing those who have no programmes in competition with the Bafta Award broadcasts would be "self-defeating," but said Hilary Bevan-Jones would be discussing the matter with Grade at their next scheduled meeting.