ITC Chief Executive outlines her vision for broadcast future

ITC Chief Executive Patricia Hodgson has used the Royal Television Society Fleming Lecture in London to outline her belief that greater freedom for both business and creative industries will be key to the next stage of success in the UK's communications sector.
In the March 5 lecture, entitled "Freedom to Flourish: The Future of Communications", she referred to government plans to create OFCOM, the proposed new communications regulator, Ms Hodgson (pictured) said: "With a new Bill and a new regulator, there's a chance to make a real cultural shift and focus on what matters most. The focus should be on investment, deregulation and access."
She added: “We need to get rid of blocks to investment wherever possible. Perhaps the time has come to rely more on competition law, and roll back complex ownership controls."
Ms Hodgson pointed out, however, that it was important for broadcasters to "challenge and engage viewers" with impartial news coverage - "the fuel of deomcracy".
She said: "Special safeguards are needed for news, the fuel of democracy, and for cross-media ownership, where significant market power means significant political power. There is a genuine danger of a market delivering sport, films and commodity TV, with little to challenge and engage."
She also added that the focal point of any broadcaster should not be to beat its competitors at any price – quality programming should remain the goal. “Beating ITV with 'Blue Planet' is a triumph. Beating ITV with 'Celebrity Sleepover' is a tragedy," she said.
The ITC Chief Executive described how an effective Channel 4 could ensure an active and fluid market.
“With free spectrum and no shareholder pressure, Channel 4 can do things the market won't. It's trying to build a multi-channel presence with purely commercial channels. Good luck to it. But maybe we should think about how to strengthen, over the next few years, the public service offerings as well,” she said.
Ms Hodgson concluded with three messages for the commercial networks:
“First to the broadcasters, have confidence. Times are tough. But ambition, risk-taking and challenge will keep channels fresh," she said.
"Second, to advertisers, understand that challenge. Even the most popular channels cannot be all things to all men. In future, the networks will need to develop distinctive but complementary identities if they're to succeed.
"Thirdly, to the legislators, create a structure that encourages investment."
ITC, www.itc.org.uk
(GB)