DISAPPOINTMENT AT ITV REGIONAL COMMITMENT

SIR ROBIN Biggam, Chairman of the ITC, has said that the ITC are disappointed by ITV's failure to embrace the need for new and different commitments to the regional services.
He said that while the ITC agreed with much of ITV's overall submission to the Government on the White Paper on Communications he would sum up ITV's comments on regionality in two words: 'Trust Us'.
According to Sir Robin the submission avoided making any firm commitments to regional resources and services.
Speaking at a recent ITC dinner in Manchester Sir Robin said: “The history of commercial broadcasting in the UK is based on the overall economic benefits accruing to a public service broadcaster exceeding the financial penalty of providing services such as regional programmes which are clearly less profitable than networked programmes. Against this background I feel Government will require more than 'Trust Us' from ITV.
“However, we are still at the discussion stage on the Bill with the possibility of a further year of debate in Parliament. Accordingly, the regulated and regulators still have time to work together and provide a framework for Government on the continuing provision of regional services.
“I can make the offer tonight that we for our part are prepared to discuss with ITV a framework for the Nations and Regions of the UK in the belief that we could present to Government a proposal which would be more acceptable to them and would provide a guarantee to the Regions of quality programmes produced in the regions and based on continuing regional resources”.
Sir Robin added that it was part of the role of the ITC to ensure that broadcasting reflects the richness and diversity of the UK. The public service broadcasters - BBC, ITV and Channel 4 - have a special responsibility and duty to make firm and binding commitment to Government in return for the commitment from Government to endorse their position as Public Service Broadcasters.
(GB)