From Broadcasting to Communications Policy (1990–2003)

Abstract

Following Peacock’s recommendations, the Broadcasting Act 1990 had introduced a quota of 25 per cent for independent productions, enforced on the BBC and Channel 3, to stimulate the growth of the independent production sector. With respect to the Corporation, the quota challenged its character as a ‘vertically integrated, end-to-end programme producer, scheduler, and transmitter’ of television services (Collins and Purnell 1996: 73). Concerning Channel 3, it further removed the regional companies from direct decisions about networked programming and thus prepared the ground for upcoming consolidations. The Act abolished public ownership of the transmitter network which was sold to National Transcommunications Ltd (NTL), leading to an increasingly deregulated and privatized telecommunications market. Apart from that, the Act had replaced the IBA by a ‘light touch’ ITC.¹ Changes in ITV’s regional structure, however, did not concur with the evolution of regulatory bodies. In fact these would not be decreed before the beginning of the new millennium. One contributor notes:

When the franchise renewal for the federal system took place in 1991 there was great worry that its financial structure ould not carry the regional remit any longer. Negotiations between the Thatcher govern ment and the regulator led to an acceptance that the regional broadcasting structure should continue even though it was becoming obvious that a single ITV company rather than 15 was necessary to keep costs under control.²