ITV has sent the government a clear warning that it risks jeopardising
the future of the UK’s pounds 3.5 billion television industry unless its
safeguards ITV’s future in the forthcoming Broadcast Bill.
Details of the Bill are expected to be revealed in two weeks time in the
Queen’s Speech.
The warning comes in the shape of an ITV-commissioned report by Spectrum
Strategy Consultants on ITV’s role in the television industry which was
released this week. It is the first joint initiative by the various ITV
companies, which have so far lobbied the Government separately on the
new Broadcast Bill.
ITV argues the Government must review the payments ITV companies make to
the Government if they are to survive in an increasingly competitive
market place, and warns that the demise of the ITV companies will
undermine the UK TV industry.
The report shows that ITV contributes pounds 2 billion, or over half the
economic value of the UK TV market, through investment in programming
and payments to the Treasury. It estimates that ITV accounts for 13,400
jobs out of a total 42,000 jobs in the industry
‘The conclusion reached by the Spectrum report is that if we are serious
about wanting to continue to have the most successful television
industry in Europe, we need the two pillars of the UK programme making
business - the BBC and ITV - to remain strong,’ said ITV chairman Leslie
Butterfield.
