TV
The Independent Television Commission (ITC) today agreed to the restoration of a 10pm news bulletin on ITV as part of a package of proposals put forward by ITV, to be introduced in the new year.
From Monday to Thursday evenings, the 20 minute Nightly News will be scheduled at 10pm. Friday evenings will follow the weekend news pattern, with a news bulletin immediately following longer-format programmes, but not later than 11.15pm.
Following ITV's success with long-form drama, the new arrangements will allow them flexibility to schedule quality drama, documentaries, sport and films on an average of one day a week when the ITV Nightly News will follow the long-format programme.
The schedule changes mean that on most weekday evenings there will be two programmes of national and international news during peak viewing. ITV are committed to clearly signposting any schedule changes to viewers in advance, so that they will be well aware of the times of news bulletins.
The ITV companies have also promised an increase in investment of £42m in the network programme budget - £21m of which is new money - to strengthen their schedule, bringing the total budget in 2001 to £747m.
The volume of regional programmes stays the same and there are no changes to the 6pm regional news programmes or regional headlines. There will be some reduction in peak time regional programmes as a result of the schedule changes. The late evening regional news bulletins will be preceded by networked programmes starting at 10.20pm, giving them a strong audience inheritance, while during the next General Election campaign, the ITV Nightly News will be extended to include the late evening regional news.
The ITV companies have reaffirmed their commitment to regional programming in recognition of the unique public service value it delivers to viewers and the ITC will continue to be vigilant in its duty to ensure the continuing quality and character of those programmes.
Both parties agreed that the resolution signals a recommitment of their determination to work together to deliver a high quality schedule to viewers. As a result, the ITC has withdrawn its Direction to ITV to move the Nightly News to an earlier time and ITV has withdrawn Judicial Review proceedings against the ITC.
Said ITC Chairman, Sir Robin Biggam: "The Commission has accepted ITV's imaginative proposal to provide viewers with news in the late evening when they are more likely to watch, combined with the flexibility to deliver long form drama, one hour documentaries, current affairs and other programmes to their audiences."
"The key to this settlement is allowing ITV the flexibility to fight its corner in an increasingly competitive market place, set against the need for them to provide news at an accessible time in the late evening. This package will clearly benefit viewers," he added.
"Resolving this issue was vital," said ITC Chief Executive Patricia Hodgson. "We can all concentrate now on the future of commercial television in the digital age."
The ITC has also agreed a series of modifications to its rules on advertising breaks which will provide ITV with additional revenue to invest in programmes. These changes include an addition of 2.5 minutes to the limit on advertising over the hours from 6pm to 11pm, but the total limit of advertising each day will remain unchanged. The changes will also apply to Channels 4 and 5. The limits on advertising on Channels 3, 4 and 5 remain significantly stricter than those required by the European Directive on Television Without Frontiers.
From Monday to Thursday evenings, the 20 minute Nightly News will be scheduled at 10pm. Friday evenings will follow the weekend news pattern, with a news bulletin immediately following longer-format programmes, but not later than 11.15pm.
Following ITV's success with long-form drama, the new arrangements will allow them flexibility to schedule quality drama, documentaries, sport and films on an average of one day a week when the ITV Nightly News will follow the long-format programme.
The schedule changes mean that on most weekday evenings there will be two programmes of national and international news during peak viewing. ITV are committed to clearly signposting any schedule changes to viewers in advance, so that they will be well aware of the times of news bulletins.
The ITV companies have also promised an increase in investment of £42m in the network programme budget - £21m of which is new money - to strengthen their schedule, bringing the total budget in 2001 to £747m.
The volume of regional programmes stays the same and there are no changes to the 6pm regional news programmes or regional headlines. There will be some reduction in peak time regional programmes as a result of the schedule changes. The late evening regional news bulletins will be preceded by networked programmes starting at 10.20pm, giving them a strong audience inheritance, while during the next General Election campaign, the ITV Nightly News will be extended to include the late evening regional news.
The ITV companies have reaffirmed their commitment to regional programming in recognition of the unique public service value it delivers to viewers and the ITC will continue to be vigilant in its duty to ensure the continuing quality and character of those programmes.
Both parties agreed that the resolution signals a recommitment of their determination to work together to deliver a high quality schedule to viewers. As a result, the ITC has withdrawn its Direction to ITV to move the Nightly News to an earlier time and ITV has withdrawn Judicial Review proceedings against the ITC.
Said ITC Chairman, Sir Robin Biggam: "The Commission has accepted ITV's imaginative proposal to provide viewers with news in the late evening when they are more likely to watch, combined with the flexibility to deliver long form drama, one hour documentaries, current affairs and other programmes to their audiences."
"The key to this settlement is allowing ITV the flexibility to fight its corner in an increasingly competitive market place, set against the need for them to provide news at an accessible time in the late evening. This package will clearly benefit viewers," he added.
"Resolving this issue was vital," said ITC Chief Executive Patricia Hodgson. "We can all concentrate now on the future of commercial television in the digital age."
The ITC has also agreed a series of modifications to its rules on advertising breaks which will provide ITV with additional revenue to invest in programmes. These changes include an addition of 2.5 minutes to the limit on advertising over the hours from 6pm to 11pm, but the total limit of advertising each day will remain unchanged. The changes will also apply to Channels 4 and 5. The limits on advertising on Channels 3, 4 and 5 remain significantly stricter than those required by the European Directive on Television Without Frontiers.
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