Ofcom backs ITV regional cutbacks

The media watchdog Ofcom has suggested that the struggling commercial broadcaster's regional news services may be reduced.

The proposals are the second phase of Ofcom's ongoing review into how public service broadcasting will survive the digital switchover in 2012.



Regional news bulletins face cut-backs after the industry regulator backed plans to slash programming.

Ofcom says ITV can cut back on regional programming by up to 50 per cent as it suffers an advertising slowdown.

The regulator also predicts that between £145 million and £235 million of additional public funding would be needed by 2012 to keep ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel Five afloat.

The proposals come under the second phase of Ofcom's review into public service broadcasting, launched as the industry faces huge changes including increased competition and the digital switchover.

In April, Ofcom suggested that the BBC could lose some of its licence fee to other broadcasters.

Ofcom is proposing that the number of regional news broadcasts should be reduced during the day, with the focus on prime-time news broadcasts instead.

The minimum quota for ITV's regional non-news programmes should also be cut from 30 minutes to 15 minutes on average a week, it suggested.

There is currently a subsidy for commercial public sector broadcasting, which Ofcom estimates would be able to contribute £185 million in 2012.

But it said the total public funding needed for audiences to enjoy the same level of content would be between £330 million and £420 million - leaving a shortfall of up to £235 million.

The money is needed to safeguard the types of programme-making which are less profitable and under threat in a multi-channel age, said Ofcom.

Content such as UK-made sitcoms, children's programmes, current affairs, films and comedy, regional news and single dramas are becoming increasingly commercially unattractive, it added.

In the meantime, it said soaps and sport are likely to remain profitable for commercial broadcasters like ITV and Channel Five.

Ofcom is proposing a number of models for providing public service broadcasting in the future.

These include an evolution of the current model, a system where only the BBC and Channel 4 receive public funding, or a competitive model where broadcast, online and multi-channel providers can compete to deliver the content.

Ofcom said its findings so far had shown that there was virtually no support for a BBC-only model.

Ed Richards, chief executive of Ofcom, said: "Audiences value public service programming highly, but strong digital TV take-up means it is becoming harder for our leading commercial broadcasters to provide this.

"We have provided a clear set of choices for maintaining and strengthening public service broadcasting in the future. Along with our proposals in the short term, timely decisions by government and Parliament will be critical." A final statement will be issued by Ofcom, following further consultation, early next year.

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