[Community Television] ITV Regional plans: Broadcast Online

[Ian Fergusson]

MPs attack Ofcom over regional ITV plans 
16 November 2004 10:14 

Media secretary Tessa Jowell is facing a growing Parliamentary revolt
over Ofcom's controversial proposals to reduce the public service
obligations of ITV regional companies.
Some 43 MPs in all parties have already backed a public plea to the
media regulator to rethink its strategy, which will allow ITV regions to
cut non-news programming to 1.5 hours a week next year.
The scale of the rebellion - other names are expected to be added -
reflects the wide support ITV regional companies enjoy among MPs, many
of whom take part in their political programmes.
A Commons motion urging the rethink has been tabled by Labour's John
Grogan, the Tories' Nigel Evans and Bob Russell of the Liberal
Democrats.
"ITV has a strong tradition of producing regional political, current
affairs, sport and documentary programmes specifically for each region,"
the MPs said.
"The Ofcom review acknowledges that these regional programmes gain
higher audiences on a slot-by-slot basis than general ITV output."
The MPs said they viewed Ofcom's proposals with "dismay" and said they
were surprised that it was "not linking discussions about reductions in
ITV's licence payments with the maintenance of regional public service
obligations at least until digital switchover".
Ofcom is consulting on the proposals until 24 November.

--------------------------
Ian K. Fergusson * Manager, Press & Publicity *  BBC Bristol /  BBC West
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