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ITV to cut Sports budget, ITV2+1 to launch

(June 2006)

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CA
CoxyAppo
ITV will cut it's sports programming budget to please share holders. Also ITV are to launch a time shift service for ITV2 on cable and satellite later this year.

Quote:
ITV is to hand shareholders another £200m in cash and slash sports programme budgets, the broadcaster said today as it reported a decline in first-half advertising revenues.
The company has decided to give investors a total of £500m as a cash return, up from the £300m it promised three months ago.

It also promised new savings of £100m by 2008, of which £30m will be achieved by trimming the sports programming budget.

This comes on top of the £120m in savings the company has delivered as part of the 2004 merger between Granada and Carlton.

ITV also said today it would spend an extra £20m on multichannel television next year, after launching a "+1" version of ITV2 on cable and satellite later this year.

The company is looking to its digital channels to shore up revenues as its flagship channel ITV1 suffers a decline in viewers. Revenues at the digital channels were up 42% to £69m in the first half of the year, ITV said.

Overall across the company, however, advertising revenues are set to be down 4.6% year-on-year in the six-month period between January and June.

Total revenues for the period, including programme sales, are projected to be up 2% on the year before.
GS
Gavin Scott Founding member
I may be alone (although I suspect I am not), but I really like ITV2.

A +1 channel will work for me. I'll never miss Judge Judy again.
GE
thegeek Founding member
I wonder what they'll call it. Surely ITV2+1=ITV3.
CA
CoxyAppo
I like ITV2 (especially Supernatural!) but it's mostly repeats anyway so I don't think a time shift network would really work well for them
MA
marksi
If they are going to launch further channels my advice to them would be to buy more satellite space and not further reduce the picture quality of the current channels which is already poor.

They'll probably close Men and Motors to do it. They've ruined it now anyway.
AN
Andrew Founding member
I'm sure there is a duplicate version of ITV2 already broadcasting on one of the transponders already

ITV2 +1 is a good idea, after all there are E4+1 and More4+1 etc
DA
davidmcg
Well by your maths it should be e4+1=e5 and more 4+1=5
SK
Skimpy Knickers
I wish ITV cared more about the quality of its programmes than pleasing shareholders.

It's got several channels with barely anything watchable on any of them. ITV Play is the worst thing ever to come from Charles Allen. He is dragging ITV through the mud, and no end of revamps and new logos is going to disguise the fact that ITV is nothing compared to what it was 15-20 years ago.

I wouldn't be surprised if it sacked half the Coronation Street cast to cut costs.
:-(
A former member
Interesting how ITV feel it's more important to have a timeshifted ITV2 - why not it's premier channel ITV1? Let's repeat the repeats of repeats, but not the main stuff!

(For that matter, why not C4+1 when we have E4+1 and More4+1?)
MA
marksi
Andrew Wood posted:
Interesting how ITV feel it's more important to have a timeshifted ITV2 - why not it's premier channel ITV1? Let's repeat the repeats of repeats, but not the main stuff!

(For that matter, why not C4+1 when we have E4+1 and More4+1?)


For C4 the main reason there wouldn't be a +1 is probably rights based. To a lesser extent for C4 but a greater one for ITV1 would be the question of which region would be on the +1 feed.
CW
Charlie Wells Moderator
ITV Plc do seem to be cutting back on their departments, first childrens now sport. I suspect they prefer to launch a +1 channel as it's doesn't have much extra cost to run, as it's just reshowing a channel rather than showing 'new' content.
SK
skyisthebest
If ITV2 +1 proves popular, i guess ITV3 +1 and ITV4 +1 will probably follow. CITV Channel +1 is also possible - especially as most of the Kids channels have +1's.

In addition, if Men & Motors is now staying and performing quite well in the ratings, i guess Men & Motors +1 could eventually be on the cards as well.

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