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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| ITV 'can cut' regional programmes | ITV 'can cut' regional programmes |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| ITV would provide fewer regional programmes, including news bulletins, under proposals from regulator Ofcom. | ITV would provide fewer regional programmes, including news bulletins, under proposals from regulator Ofcom. |
| The broadcaster has been advised to concentrate on providing original output which has been made in the UK. | The broadcaster has been advised to concentrate on providing original output which has been made in the UK. |
| It would be allowed to show fewer daytime news bulletins, but only after it "restructured" its news operations in England and the Scottish Borders. | It would be allowed to show fewer daytime news bulletins, but only after it "restructured" its news operations in England and the Scottish Borders. |
| Ofcom has been looking at the future of public service broadcasting at a time when advertising income is falling. | |
| The main commercial operators - ITV, Channel 4 and Five - are governed by rules on the amount of news, children's, religious and arts programmes they must broadcast. | The main commercial operators - ITV, Channel 4 and Five - are governed by rules on the amount of news, children's, religious and arts programmes they must broadcast. |
| READ THE REPORT Ofcom's Second Public Service Broadcasting Review [650KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | READ THE REPORT Ofcom's Second Public Service Broadcasting Review [650KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| In effect, they receive a public subsidy to provide the types of shows which are less profitable, and therefore not as attractive in commercial terms. | In effect, they receive a public subsidy to provide the types of shows which are less profitable, and therefore not as attractive in commercial terms. |
| But the rules needed "a deep structural change", said the organisation's chief executive, Ed Richards. | But the rules needed "a deep structural change", said the organisation's chief executive, Ed Richards. |
| "The system where easy profits for commercial public service broadcasters effectively subsidised certain kinds of programmes has now gone. | "The system where easy profits for commercial public service broadcasters effectively subsidised certain kinds of programmes has now gone. |
| "What we are proposing is to focus on audiences' priorities - those areas that audiences most value," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "What we are proposing is to focus on audiences' priorities - those areas that audiences most value," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| WHAT DEFINES PUBLIC-SERVICE BROADCASTING? High-quality national and regional newsCurrent affairs and documentaries (pictured)Children's programmingThe artsReligious affairs | WHAT DEFINES PUBLIC-SERVICE BROADCASTING? High-quality national and regional newsCurrent affairs and documentaries (pictured)Children's programmingThe artsReligious affairs |
| But there has not been universal approval of the idea that ITV would show less regional news. | But there has not been universal approval of the idea that ITV would show less regional news. |
| The broadcaster plans to cut its newsrooms around the UK from 17 to nine, and the Bectu union fears 250 jobs will be lost among journalists and technical staff. | The broadcaster plans to cut its newsrooms around the UK from 17 to nine, and the Bectu union fears 250 jobs will be lost among journalists and technical staff. |
| Politicians have made submissions to Ofcom over the proposed merger of the Border and Tyne Tees newsrooms, covering the south-east and south-west of Scotland, plus the north-east of England and Cumbria. | Politicians have made submissions to Ofcom over the proposed merger of the Border and Tyne Tees newsrooms, covering the south-east and south-west of Scotland, plus the north-east of England and Cumbria. |
| There were concerns that the quality of news for the south of Scotland would fall if it lost its customised bulletins. | There were concerns that the quality of news for the south of Scotland would fall if it lost its customised bulletins. |
| Have your say: should regional programmes be preserved? | Have your say: should regional programmes be preserved? |
| Gerry Morrissey, Bectu's general secretary, said employees would be balloted over industrial action if Ofcom's proposals led to compulsory job cuts. | Gerry Morrissey, Bectu's general secretary, said employees would be balloted over industrial action if Ofcom's proposals led to compulsory job cuts. |
| "Ofcom has not fulfilled its responsibility to the viewers," he said. "They are looking after the interest of the broadcaster instead. | "Ofcom has not fulfilled its responsibility to the viewers," he said. "They are looking after the interest of the broadcaster instead. |
| "ITV were happy to make tens of millions of pounds with these licences over the years but are now saying they don't want to fulfil their public service responsibility any more. | "ITV were happy to make tens of millions of pounds with these licences over the years but are now saying they don't want to fulfil their public service responsibility any more. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| "They should not be given frequencies to broadcast if they do not take their public service responsibilities seriously." | "They should not be given frequencies to broadcast if they do not take their public service responsibilities seriously." |
| Speaking in general terms, Mr Richards said Ofcom felt peak-time news bulletins must remain on ITV as they were "the kind of news that is most watched and most valued by audiences". | Speaking in general terms, Mr Richards said Ofcom felt peak-time news bulletins must remain on ITV as they were "the kind of news that is most watched and most valued by audiences". |
| Ofcom has forecast that between £145 and £235 million of extra public funding will be needed by 2012 to maintain present levels of programming. | Ofcom has forecast that between £145 and £235 million of extra public funding will be needed by 2012 to maintain present levels of programming. |
| The regulator also believes Channel 4 will need funding from other sources to meet its public-service commitments. | The regulator also believes Channel 4 will need funding from other sources to meet its public-service commitments. |
| This is a matter for the government to decide, but Mr Richards said Ofcom opposed "top-slicing" the licence fee, where some of the revenue generated for the BBC was redistributed to Channel 4. | This is a matter for the government to decide, but Mr Richards said Ofcom opposed "top-slicing" the licence fee, where some of the revenue generated for the BBC was redistributed to Channel 4. |
| ALSO IN OFCOM'S REPORT Three different models are suggested to maintain public-service broadcastingITV can halve the amount of non-news regional programming it makesITV can cut by a third the number of shows made "outside the M25"Channel 4 must produce slightly more programmes "outside the M25", with new quotas for shows from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from 2010Five should focus on UK-made programmes, including children's output, plus national news | ALSO IN OFCOM'S REPORT Three different models are suggested to maintain public-service broadcastingITV can halve the amount of non-news regional programming it makesITV can cut by a third the number of shows made "outside the M25"Channel 4 must produce slightly more programmes "outside the M25", with new quotas for shows from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from 2010Five should focus on UK-made programmes, including children's output, plus national news |
| "The budgets for the BBC's services and programmes must be protected," he said. | "The budgets for the BBC's services and programmes must be protected," he said. |
| Ofcom is trying to establish a way in which the commercial TV industry can reshape itself to address all of the issues at hand. | Ofcom is trying to establish a way in which the commercial TV industry can reshape itself to address all of the issues at hand. |
| It will continue to consult broadcasters and assess options until December, before releasing its final recommendations early next year. | It will continue to consult broadcasters and assess options until December, before releasing its final recommendations early next year. |
| ITV said it welcomed Ofcom's proposals to shake up the rules covering its schedules. | ITV said it welcomed Ofcom's proposals to shake up the rules covering its schedules. |
| "We have consistently argued that the regulatory costs and commercial benefits of holding the ITV plc licences need to be rebalanced between now and analogue switch-off in 2012," it said in a statement. | "We have consistently argued that the regulatory costs and commercial benefits of holding the ITV plc licences need to be rebalanced between now and analogue switch-off in 2012," it said in a statement. |