Ofcom moves to ease regional fears

Communications regulator Ofcom has denied that that its proposals to relax ITV's regional obligations are a "done deal."
Speaking at a conference on the future of regional television in Manchester on Thursday November 4 Ofcom's project leader Robin Foster and Content Board advisor Sarah Thane both insisted that Ofcom's proposals for the future of public service broadcasting were the subject of genuine and continuing consultation.
Representatives from ITV unions are to meet today (November 8) in London to give further thought to the industry unions' formal submissions to Ofcom, Bectu's full submission will be posted on the union's website after submission to Ofcom.
In its wide-ranging Phase 2 report into the future of PSB, Ofcom proposes that non-news regional output (out of peak) be cut from 3 hours a week to 1.5 hours from January 2005. Ofcom's review also places a significant and grave question mark over the entire sustainability of regional programmes and regional news output in the face of digital switchover.
Bectu had challenged Ofcom on the integrity of the consultation following an email issued by Granada Television Managing Director Susan Woodward to all staff on the day Ofcom's Phase 2 report was published, saying that ITV now had the go-ahead to "reduce their regional non-news commitment from 3 hours to 1.5 hours a week from January 2005". Bectu was aware that ITV had been lobbying hard for the cuts from at least July.
In response to Bectu's challenge, Ofcom, at the most senior level, insists that a genuine consultation is in place and yet at the same time the regulator also says it has no powers to influence how ITV runs its business.
Sharon Elliott, Bectu independent broadcasting official, said: "Ofcom's repeated insistence on outputs not inputs is getting a touch wearing. How can it stand by and let ITV make plans to cut staff from January and maintain its independence and integrity as the regulator leading an industry consultation?"
The BBC were represented at the Manchester event - organised by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) - by Pat Loughrey, Director of Nations and Regions. Mr Loughrey trailed further details of the BBC's review of operations as part of the Charter Renewal process.
According to Mr Loughrey the BBC intends to manage £1 billion of the BBC's income from the regions linked to the location of half of of the BBC's staff outside London. Mr Loughrey promised that a top-level announcement on the plan would be made in December.
"Surely it is time to halt the acute waste of resources evidenced by multiple redundancies and constant reviews of operations across the industry going back years?
"Ofcom says it review of PSB is about maintaining and strengthening PSB - if that is the case then time must be factored in to allow for change without jettisoning the programme making resources we have at ITV in pursuit of a new era for PSB," said Elliott.
(GB)