Hard of Understanding

So, it has finally arrived. The death of the independent public service broadcaster. And that's what most don't realise, that ITV, independent as it may be, still has a public service brief to follow.

But OFCOM (toothless successor to the IBA) has finally rolled over and allowed ITV to cut most of its regional programming.

This is possibly the single most perverse thing that I have heard in UK broadcasting!

The BBC was renowned from day one as being based in London, broadcasting from London. ITV was different. It broadcast on regional licences, with Granada being the first company to make the most of this by building its iconic complex in xity centre Manchester.

Just like the BBC, it had criteria to fulfill along the lines of news, religious programming, production output, location output, regional programming, childrens etc etc etc.

Yet, since 1990 and the inception of the ITC (now OFCOM) it has progressively had its criteria relaxed to the point now that they have cut childrens output and are now cutting the amount of regional news, with OFCOM giving its blessing saying that it should focus on "Original British Drama."

So this means that ITV will essentially become a terrestrial Sky One will a miniscule public service expectation? What do you reckon it will be rebranded as now that it is a much more attractive offer to another broadcaster for takeover?

ITV was criticised last year by OFCOM for the biggest proportion of its programming being based, one way or another, in London. Now OFCOM's giving its blessing for it to carry on this way!

ITV 1955 - 2008 R.I.P.
OFCOM - to follow?