The 1993 set up also meant ITV no longer sold Channel 4 airtime, and so Ch4 were effectively in competition with ITV for advertising revenue. We know Channel 4 switched to six macro regions, did the ITv companies change their advertising strategy, i.e. did each company create new sub regions for advertising? As an example, did Granada split their region for advertising, north and south, same for HTV Wales?
The 1993 set up also meant ITV no longer sold Channel 4 airtime, and so Ch4 were effectively in competition with ITV for advertising revenue. We know Channel 4 switched to six macro regions, did the ITv companies change their advertising strategy, i.e. did each company create new sub regions for advertising? As an example, did Granada split their region for advertising, north and south, same for HTV Wales?
The biggest change in strategy was to combine sales operations to form companies like Merlin (Meridian/HTV/Westcountry/Channel/S4C) and Laser Sales (LWT/Granada/Yorkshire/TyneTees).
The 1993 set up also meant ITV no longer sold Channel 4 airtime, and so Ch4 were effectively in competition with ITV for advertising revenue. We know Channel 4 switched to six macro regions, did the ITv companies change their advertising strategy, i.e. did each company create new sub regions for advertising? As an example, did Granada split their region for advertising, north and south, same for HTV Wales?
The biggest change in strategy was to combine sales operations to form companies like Merlin (Meridian/HTV/Westcountry/Channel/S4C) and Laser Sales (LWT/Granada/Yorkshire/TyneTees).
Although to be fair Laser only took over YTV's sales when the latter were involved in a desperate attempt to cook the books by overselling airtime. It didn't start out as a "strategy" as such.
The 1993 set up also meant ITV no longer sold Channel 4 airtime, and so Ch4 were effectively in competition with ITV for advertising revenue.
There was, however, still an obligation for the ITV companies to broadcast X number of trailers for C4. I remember the ITC finding Meridian in breach of their licence because they'd refused to run trailers for Four Weddings and a Funeral.
:-(
A former member
I always remember 12.30 jct where the announcer always say over on channel 4 its Sesame street but now it's time for the Lunchtime news.
I always remember 12.30 jct where the announcer always say over on channel 4 its Sesame street but now it's time for the Lunchtime news.
Yes, the local ITV announcers still cross-promoted what was about to start on Channel Four during specific junctions. I remember the Channel Four News at 7.00 normally getting a mention on ITV, and Brookside on the days it was scheduled. This was still happening in late 1993 but was long gone by the time ITV2 launched - when specifically did this type of cross-promotion end?
Although to be fair Laser only took over YTV's sales when the latter were involved in a desperate attempt to cook the books by overselling airtime. It didn't start out as a "strategy" as such.
Laser Sales started as part of a clear strategy by LWT to prepare for a post Broadcasting Act future, and initially included TVS.
Although to be fair Laser only took over YTV's sales when the latter were involved in a desperate attempt to cook the books by overselling airtime. It didn't start out as a "strategy" as such.
Laser Sales started as part of a clear strategy by LWT to prepare for a post Broadcasting Act future, and initially included TVS.
That may well be the case but YTV joined for the exact reason I cited. It was a contributing factor in the ITC's decision to demand changes at the company and led to Ward Thomas coming out of retirement.
I always remember 12.30 jct where the announcer always say over on channel 4 its Sesame street but now it's time for the Lunchtime news.
Yes, the local ITV announcers still cross-promoted what was about to start on Channel Four during specific junctions. I remember the Channel Four News at 7.00 normally getting a mention on ITV, and Brookside on the days it was scheduled. This was still happening in late 1993 but was long gone by the time ITV2 launched - when specifically did this type of cross-promotion end?
Would have been late nineties. I remember some trailers appearing on Channel 4 with the 1998 [itv] logo but I think it finished not too long after that. I seem to remember also that Channel 4 had to pay a levy to itv for a number of years after itv companies stopped selling their advertising to compensate them for the change.
Up until 1998 the ITV companies received half of all Channel 4's ad sales over and above a 14% benchmark. From 1998 that was reduced to a third and it was recommended that at least half of that revenue should be spent on ITV2/YouTV/S2 (not On Digital).
The arrangement was phased out as the ITV companies integrated further and after their licences were renegotiated towards the end of the decade, meaning they started paying less to the Treasury.
I believe they stopped cross promoting in 1998 to coincide with the levy reduction.
Although, HTV continued to cross promote programmes it produced for S4C. In fact, I think ITV Cymru Wales still does that.
I seem to remember (though of course I do wonder sometimes whether I dream this stuff up) that the cross references to Channel 4 dropped off dramatically (but not entirely) after 1993, which is probably understandable in the scale of things. After all prior to this you're getting the ad revenue regardless of which side you're watching. After 1993? Nah, sod Channel 4, stay here on ITV.
The licence payment fees were a bit strange really when they all pledged to pay so much a year for it and then lobbied heavily to get them reduced years later, in some cases to a level below what the outgoing companies had bid in the first place (GMTV we know outbid TV-am considerably and then went cap in hand years later to get this reduced. One can only imagine what TV-am's £14m bid would have been reduced to in the circumstances).
When did Friday night athletics stop being broadcast across ITV and Channel Four? I’ve a feeling they were both sharing the coverage until about the mid 90s which meant the coverage started on ITV and then handed over to C4.
