ITV franchise review of 1967
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| ITV franchise review of 1967 | |
|---|---|
| Title | ITV franchise review of 1967 |
| Year | 1967 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Governing body | Independent Television Authority |
| Outcome | Regional licence changes |
ITV franchise review of 1967
The 1967 ITV franchise review was a major reorganisation conducted by the Independent Television Authority that reshaped the Independent Television (ITV) network, affecting regional broadcasters such as Anglia Television, Associated Television, Granada Television, Southern Television, and Tyne Tees Television. The review occurred amid broader shifts in British broadcasting involving institutions like the British Broadcasting Corporation, legislative frameworks exemplified by the Television Act 1954, and contemporaneous political dynamics surrounding the Wilson ministry and the Conservative Party opposition. It influenced programming, commercial structures, and personnel linked to companies including Rediffusion plc, Thames Television, Yorkshire Television, and Westward Television.
Background and context
The review was framed by pressures from the Independent Television Authority to modernise licences after earlier interventions such as the creation of Independent Television News and the expansion of regional production by companies like ABC Weekend TV and Anglia Television. Post-war media debates involving figures such as Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, and Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet intersected with institutional actors including the Post Office, the Board of Trade, and trade unions such as the Association of Broadcasting Staff and the National Union of Journalists. Technological changes from manufacturers like Marconi Company, Pye Ltd, and RCA Corporation and cultural trends shaped by programmes like Coronation Street, Top of the Pops, The Forsyte Saga, Doctor Who, and The Avengers set the scene for regulatory scrutiny.
Review process and criteria
The Independent Television Authority applied criteria emphasizing financial stability, regional commitment, programming quality, technical competence, and competition, drawing on precedents from inquiries involving broadcasters including Granada Television, ABC Weekend TV, Associated-Rediffusion, and Southern Television. The process involved submissions, hearings, and assessments influenced by corporate entities like Imperial Group, Pearson PLC, Thomson Organization, and individuals such as Lew Grade, Sir Robert Fraser, and Cecil King, Baron King of Rusholme. Regulatory practice referenced materials from the Office of Fair Trading, the Advertising Association, and broadcasting bodies in countries like United States networks exemplified by NBC and CBS. Key evaluative themes included regional production commitments relating to studios in Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle upon Tyne, Norwich, and Brighton.
Decisions and licence changes
The review led to high-profile outcomes: the loss, retention, or reshaping of franchises held by companies such as Rediffusion plc, Associated Television (ATV), and ABC Weekend TV and paved the way for new franchises including Thames Television and London Weekend Television. Some franchises were amalgamated or reallocated in regions served by Westward Television, TWW (Television Wales and the West), Teledu Cymru, Border Television, Harlech Television (HTV), and Ulster Television. Financial arrangements involved corporate mergers and consortiums including Thames Television Limited (involving ABC Weekend TV and Rediffusion interests) and bids by groups associated with Pearson Television and EMI Group plc. Technical responsibilities shifted to transmission contractors related to Independent Broadcasting Authority predecessors and transmitter networks at sites such as Crystal Palace and Emley Moor.
Impact on ITV network and regional programming
Programme commissioning and scheduling were affected across regions with implications for flagship series produced by companies like Granada Television, Yorkshire Television, Anglia Television, and Border Television. Changes influenced regional news provision in hubs such as Birmingham, Leeds, Cardiff, Glasgow, and Belfast, and impacted entertainment output including light entertainment stars tied to companies like Associated Television and production figures including Brian Tesler and Denis Forman. The restructure also affected independent production companies collaborating with ITV such as Rediffusion's production unit, Thames Television's production arm, and freelance creators associated with programme titles like Z-Cars, Public Eye, and World of Sport.
Responses from companies, politicians and public
Corporate reactions involved legal and commercial manoeuvres by entities including Rediffusion plc, Associated Communications Corporation, Pearson PLC, Thomson Organization, and EMI Group plc, with commentary from executives such as Lew Grade and Cecil King. Political responses came from MPs across parties including voices from the Labour Party (UK), the Conservative Party (UK), and the Liberal Party (UK), and interventions by ministers in the Home Office and debates in the House of Commons. Trade unions such as the National Union of Journalists and the Association of Cinematograph Television and Allied Technicians expressed concerns about jobs and regional production. Public reactions appeared in local press such as the Daily Telegraph, the The Times, the Guardian, Daily Mirror, and regional newspapers like the Eastern Daily Press and Liverpool Echo.
Aftermath and long-term consequences
The 1967 review set precedents for later regulatory actions including the 1974 franchise review and the eventual overhaul by the Independent Broadcasting Authority successor regimes, influencing later legislation and policy debates involving the Communications Act 2003 and the creation of Ofcom. Corporate restructurings reverberated through the British media landscape affecting conglomerates like Pearson PLC and decisions that shaped broadcasters such as Thames Television, Granada Television, and Yorkshire Television. The redistribution of regional responsibilities affected talent development that fed into cultural institutions like the National Film and Television School and broadcasters across Europe, including relationships with broadcasters such as the British Broadcasting Corporation and commercial entities influenced by continental models like RAI and ARD. The review’s legacy persisted in discussions about regional representation, commercial broadcasting models, and the balance between national and local output in the United Kingdom media sector.