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Scottish pres discussion Thread

For BBC Scotland and STV. (April 2009)

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SC
scottishtv Founding member
That story has since been updated:

BBC News posted:
An ITV spokesman said: "ITV Network has always entered into agreements for the benefit of all Channel 3 licensees and strongly disputes any allegation by STV to the contrary.

"It is also important to note that STV is already being paid a revenue share on deals which have been struck on behalf of all licensees and therefore any claim that STV has suffered financial loss is baseless."
:-(
A former member
That story has since been updated:

BBC News posted:
An ITV spokesman said: "ITV Network has always entered into agreements for the benefit of all Channel 3 licensees and strongly disputes any allegation by STV to the contrary.

"It is also important to note that STV is already being paid a revenue share on deals which have been struck on behalf of all licensees and therefore any claim that STV has suffered financial loss is baseless."


Very clever ITV people have not highlighted the other issues in this;

THE ITV branding on such players.........
SO
SOL
SOL posted:
What do they mean by this?

I think this relates to things like the ITV Player appearing (with ITV 1 fontcap) on things like Virgin Media's cable TV on demand service. I'm guessing STV don't get any cash from any deals here and were possibly never asked about branding. There is quite a decent cable presence in the central belt so it could be quite galling for the STV chiefs with cable in their homes.

I'm guessing the rest could relate to any possible deals about streaming ITV Player on mobile devices, consoles etc.


Thanks, I was a bit confused there. I never thought of that actually.

I think STV are well within their rights to do this and I can see ITV being forced to at the very least remove their branding on VM on demand.
SO
SOL
That story has since been updated:

BBC News posted:
An ITV spokesman said: "ITV Network has always entered into agreements for the benefit of all Channel 3 licensees and strongly disputes any allegation by STV to the contrary.

"It is also important to note that STV is already being paid a revenue share on deals which have been struck on behalf of all licensees and therefore any claim that STV has suffered financial loss is baseless."


Very clever ITV people have not highlighted the other issues in this;

THE ITV branding on such players.........


They won't admit to anything. The best thing would be for STV to break away from ITV altogether.

9 days later

:-(
A former member
Here more trouble:


Quote:
STV director of broadcasting and regulatory affairs Bobby Hain said ITV was “invading STV’s territory” with its constant on-air references to ITV1, ITV.com and digital channels such as ITV2.

Hain added that the right to a clean feed went back to the “strong regional roots” of ITV.

“You only have to watch at the weekend to see the amount of references and competitions in programmes to ITV services,” he said. “As an STV viewer, you should be able to have a relationship with us that is built around the licence, and it should be free from ITV messages and ITV promotions. It’s certainly our view that much of the promotion for ITV properties is a breach of the clean feed.”

Hain added that STV was reserving its position but was prepared to fight for its entitlements.

But ITV hit back at Hain’s claims, with a spokesman saying he was “inaccurately describing the clean feed obligation as one which entitles STV to receive a transmission feed entirely free of references to ITV.

“It’s important to make clear that it actually requires ITV to provide a feed which is as clean as it was at the time the merger undertakings were given – in short, containing no increase in such references,” he said.

Earlier this year, ITV introduced separate end-credit captions for the stv.tv website on Coronation Street and Emmerdale, and agreed to limit references in the ITV News to itv.com to 2003 levels. References to itv.com were also taken off the credits.

Separately, Hain said STV would continue to opt out of ITV dramas to diversify its schedule. The broadcaster has passed on one-off Christmas dramas An Englishman in New York and Sleep With Me, and is still deciding if The Prisoner will be shown next year.
AN
Andrew Founding member
How do they expect ITV to operate as a 21st century broadcaster and compete on a level playing field with other channels if they are unable to cross promote ITV2 spin-off shows and websites?
SO
SOL
They don't need the presenters to say anything, the announcers can do the cross promos.
GS
Gavin Scott Founding member
How do they expect ITV to operate as a 21st century broadcaster and compete on a level playing field with other channels if they are unable to cross promote ITV2 spin-off shows and websites?


Its not a level playing field Andrew, its a landscape of 15 regional licence holders.

12 of 15 may belong to one firm, but that doesn't negate their responsibilities to act in accordance with the licence rules.

You've been particularly negative about STV and their entitlements throughout this acrimonious time. Just so I'm clear on your position - are you happy that ITVplc have dismantled the once regional network? Would you be happier still to see STV and UTV similarly swallowed up?
AN
Andrew Founding member
I would prefer for there to be still regional ITV but more importantly I would prefer for there to be a way to make regional tv work in this era of digital tv and sadly there doesn't seem to be a way.

I'm negative towards STV's programming decisions as I can only imagine the discussions that would take place here and on other forums if it was network ITV1 that were making their decisions. I doubt the 'they are showing rubbish now so they can pay for better stuff later' excuse would cut it.
SK
skyfan
A regional ITV could and still work. It was only when ITV started to mess about with it and started merging operations, that revenues started to decline.

Surely there is room for one regional television network in Britain.

I bet it wouldn't have turned out like it has today if the likes of Central, LWT and Granada was still on air. Ok, maybe a decline in ad revenue due to multichannel tv, but nothing like what ITV plc has done to the network.
GS
Gavin Scott Founding member
I would prefer for there to be still regional ITV but more importantly I would prefer for there to be a way to make regional tv work in this era of digital tv and sadly there doesn't seem to be a way.

I'm negative towards STV's programming decisions as I can only imagine the discussions that would take place here and on other forums if it was network ITV1 that were making their decisions. I doubt the 'they are showing rubbish now so they can pay for better stuff later' excuse would cut it.


I appreciate your answer.

I have to say, I've read some astonishing guff on other forums (and to a lesser extent here) about the strategy. I can however understand the point that if it had been ITVplc doing the same there would be questions to ask.

But that would be an unlikely outcome as ITVplc have more control and leverage about that which is commissioned and produced in the first place. They can, and some argue do, take the network in whatever direction they see fit.

STV by comparison is a small company, and had to go through the painful changeover themselves, with their own limited budget.

That period is largely at an end - the "rubbish" is gone and new shows are here week on week. The other night I watched and enjoyed "Make me happy", and I've been enjoying Greatest Scot and Scotland Revealed. "Tartan and shortbread" if you like, but Scots have a lot to be proud of, and I love seeing new documentary and history programming. Its serving me well.

Drama I would like to see. Comedy too. All in production.

But to revisit the initial point, if you lament the passing of regional production, wouldn't it stand to reason that its worth supporting a company bucking the trend, instead of killing them with a thousand pin-pricks?
:-(
A former member
[

Drama I would like to see. Comedy too. All in production.


have I misted something can you spill the beans? If murder capital and Taggart goes by then STV drama have nothing to worry about, ( I do wish New found land would come back those piece of work have won awards

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