ITV kid's plans thrown out
BECTU has welcomed news that Ofcom has rejected ITV's request to cut their Children's programmes.
Ofcom has not accepted ITV's proposal to reduce the quota on Children's programmes on its terrestrial television channels from eight to two hours a week.
The union wrote to Ofcom in early July this year when ITV's proposals for Children's TV first came to light, urging the regulator to prevent the broadcaster from further diluting its public service broadcasting commitments.
Along with other organisations represented by the FEU (Federation of Entertainment Unions), BECTU met with Ofcom on 11 September 2006 in an attempt to persuade them to reject ITV proposals to cut the hours of Children's programmes on ITV1.
In particular, the unions queried the timing of ITV's proposals prior to any decision being made on the future of advertising during children's television.
BECTU were also concerned that ITV's plans for Children's TV was simply the latest manoeuvre in a concerted retreat from their public service broadcasting requirements, following massive cuts to the ITV regions in recent years.
On 13th September a well attended meeting at BAFTA under the umbrella of Save Kid's TV opposed ITV's proposed cuts, debated the issue of advertising, and raised serious concerns about the whole future of Children's Television production in the UK.
Speaking after news of Ofcom's decision broke today, BECTU National Official Nigel Mason said: "We are delighted that Ofcom have rejected ITV's proposals to cut Children's TV.
"We have lobbied the regulator since July on this issue, arguing that the timing of ITV's move was inappropriate.
"We have had years of a steady eroding of ITV's public service broadcasting commitments and it's very welcome news that Ofcom have now decided to draw a line at this point".
The Union have already requested that ITV put on hold plans to make staff working for ITV Kids redundant as a result of the proposed cut to hours.
Save Kids TV is the campaign to protect and support UK produced programming for children in Britain and can be contacted at www.savekidstv.org.uk