ITV - Cutbacks & Proposed merger

Interesting article on the BBC News site today about the issues ITV is under.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7921427.stm

That's a very interesting article, but it certainly has a nostaligic view of ITV's past which hasn't really been relevant for the best part of a decade.

It's all very well ITV asking for less regulation, or even offering their 'blue sky' thoughts on a merger with C4 and Five; but in reality I don't see how there can be any less regulation of the C3 licences. ITV already have all the benefits of a commercial PSB with hardly any of the commitment.

It almost looks as though Ofcom are being coerced into accepting a situation where ITV are going to be paid for the privilege of operating the C3 licences.

ITV plc don't have a good track record on investments: in their previous guises as Granada & Carlton they lost millions on the ITV Digital fiasco, they now plan something similar with their current sports sponsorships. They've done the same with 'Friends Reunited' and no doubt countless other failed 'cash cows' that turned out to have the media equivalent of BSE.

Not being able to predict the future for your own business may be a good enough reason for the banks to go 'cap in hand' to the state for support, but it doesn't really work for a failing media company that couldn't see the writing on the wall and change their business model accordingly. I haven't noticed BSkyB running to the government asking for help, thus far.

Perhaps it's time to let ITV plc fail and loose their licences; although I doubt they have the gumption to actually fall on their own sword and admit their mistakes. Perhaps ITV plc can survive as an independent broadcaster, but not as a PSB and Ofcom shouldn't allow themselves to be railroaded into yet another compromise which allows it.

Ofcom should do something radical: remove the C3 licences from ITV plc and use the spectrum for HD channels in England and Wales. I appreciate that may have a disastrous effect on STV, UTV and Channel TV, but that's the nature of business.

Nothing really new in that article, although it does bring a lot of stories together. As for "blue sky thinking" - I think that's pretty much another way of saying "clutching at straws".

Once again though OFCOM are lacking here - their interests should be in protecting the ITV network, not ITV Plc - yet every solution they've offered so far has basically been to cater for the demands of ITV Plc. They don't seem willing to consider whether an ITV network without ITV Plc holding the majority of the franchises would actually be beneficial.

BECTU put the blame on the senior management - not the staff:

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/2009/03/bectu_itv_management_has_lost_its_way.html

I'm surprised, what with them being a union and all

Cuts will be more savage according to ITV insiders:
Up to 30 percent of staff to go.
ITV3 & ITV4 to close.
Yorkshire studios to close.
ITN shareholding to be sold.
Flagship ITV studio shows axed, inc 'This Morning' and 'Loose Women'.

Pick and choose the facts, it's going to be very unpleasant tomorrow.

I'll pick and choose them to be the lies. In the past I'd have said the ITN thing as well, but I wouldn't be so sure now - ITV probably don't see news as a "core asset". I imagine any thought of taking it in house has probably disappeared though.

I'm not hot on facts with this but crikey, that does sound rather alarming.

The digital channels outside the PSB remit are probably all that is keeping ITV plc going, at the moment, so I doubt they are actually threatened.

ITV3 actually provide a good schedule, and was better viewing last weekend than their core channel, for me
I only watch ITV4 for the retro-programmes, but there's nothing wrong with some of that.

There is an advertising revenue from the target demographic for both of these channels. I'm sure the same is probable for ITV2, although I couldn't comment as I don't watch it.

Perhaps it's time they sold 'Men & Motors' and swallowed the bitter pill of a loss of 50% of the profit to BSkyB while there is still one to be made!

Does ITV Casino have a TV channel?

Well I'm surprised they haven't done that already to be honest.

If thats the case what will they fill 3 hours of daytime programming with

Studio costs apart, aren't such shows cheap to produce? A big generalisation here but those shows are a lot of talking. Compared to dramas, or shows that involve a lot of outside broadcasts, aren't they cheaper to produce?

Or maybe if ITV3 is shut down ITV will use it as a reason to stick more drama repeats on ITV1 daytime?