Independent Television in Britain: Volume 5 ITV and IBA 1981–92: The Old Relationship Changes

569 Pages·1998·141.453 MB·English

by  Paul Bonner, Lesley Aston (auth.)

INDEPENDENT
TELEVISION IN BRITAIN
ITV and the IBA 1981–92: The Old Relationship
Changes
Volume 5
Paul Bonner and Lesley Aston
INDEPENDENT
TELEVISION
IN BRITAIN
Volume 5
lTV and the [I3A 1981-92: The Old Relationship Changes
Olher \'O{UIIII'S ill lhl' .1(11111' work
Volume I ORIGIN AND fOUNDATION, 1946-62
(by BCrI/(ml SCI/dllll)
Volume 2 EXPANSION r\ ND CHANGE. 1958-68
(hy Bemanl Sl'IIdall)
Volume 3 POLITICS AND COi\TROL. 1968 80
(hr jeremy Pol/er)
Volume 4 COMPANIES AND PROGRA,\tlMES. 11)68-80
(hy jeremy Po/la)
INDEPENDENT
TELEVISION
IN BRITAIN
Volume 5
lTV and the IBA 1981-92:
The Old Relationship Changes
PAUL BONNER
with
LESLEY ASTON
o
Indcpendenl TelC'visiun Assucialion and
Independent Television Commisl'iion 1998
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1s t edition 1998978-0-333-64773-8
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First published 199R t'ly
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ISBN 978-1-349-39618-4 ISBN 978-0-230-37324-2 (eBook)
DOI 10.1057/9780230373242
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CONTENTS
Lisl of Plait's Vl,I
U.W a/Tablt,s mltl Figllrl"~
Pre/aCt' (//1(/ Acknowledgements "
Lis/ (!f III!er\lil!\\·£'l'.~ lIIld {heir Re/CI'Q/II Posiriol1s 1981-92 XIV
Introduction: The IBA and lTV - 'The Curious Partnership'
Headed forChungc: 1980-82 7
2 Down to Business - New Names, New Roles
and Political Shadows on the W<lIJ: [982-84 27
3 Programmes 43
Section I. Programmes Made by lTV Companies 43
Section II: Programmes Acquired by lTV 79
Section III: Network Schedule Developments 107
Section IV: ITV's Regional Programmes 119
4 Industrial Relations. Indcpendcm Production and the
Cost of Programmes - lTV the 'Last Bastion"! 149
5 Networking: The Sum of lTV's Parts - or Cartel? 171
6 Independent Television News 211
7 The Commercial Imperative 247
Section I: Advertising 247
Section II: Ownership 284
Section III: Diversification 312
Section IV: The Levy 317
" CONTENTS
8 Political Winds of Change 322
9 The Battle of the Bill 381
10 Winners and Losers: The Licence Proccs<; and Bids 420
11 The Aftermath - for Ihe ITC: Judicial Review
- for lTV: the Monopolies and Mergers Commission 458
Api/emlix A: /BA Memher,\ (IYXI-90) 481
Appendix B: ITC Mf'lIIber.\" (jW!-Y2) 482
Appendix C: GOI'e/"nllll'llf MilliSTer.I' Respollsible for I1ro(Uic(lSliIlM.
1979-92 483
Appendix D: Four/ii Chanlle! SlIiJscripliollS 484
Appendix E: IlV Rel1/(//s 485
Bibliosrapilr 486
II/dex 513
LIST OF PLATES
(The latc) Sir William (!till) !trown Scottish Television: Managing Director
196&-90, Chairman 1991-95. (Knighted 1996.)
Sir Alastair liurnet Independent Television News: Newscaster Neil'S at T't'll
1967-90, Associate Editor and Director 1981-90. Knighted 1(84).
Bryan Cowgill Thames Television: Man<lging Director 1977-85.
Richard I)Ulln Th;mle~ Television: Director of Production 1981-85. Managing
Director (subsequently Chief Executive) 1985-95.
Greg Dyke London Weekend Television: Direclor of Programmes 1987-91.
Managing Director (subsequently Group Chief Executive) 1990-94. (PrevioLLsly
TVS: Director of Programmes 1984-87 and before Ihm TV-am: Editor-
in-Chief 1983-84).
DU\'id Eistcin TllllTIlCS Television: DircelOro!" Programmes 1986-92. (Previously
founded Brook Productions (an independent producer) 1982. Primctime Television
(independent produccr): Managing Director 1983-86.)
Sir "aul Fox Yorbhire Television: Director of Programmes 1973-84. M:lIlaging
Director 1977-88. Director, Thames Television 1991-95 (Knighted 1991.)
James Galw'lrd Television South (subsequently TVS Entertainment): Managing
Director 1979-84. Chief Executive 1984-91. TVS Television: Chairman and Chief
Executive 1984-90, Chairman 1990 91.
Da\'id Glencross Independent Broadcasting Authority: Deputy Director of
Television 1977-83. Director of Television 1983-90. Independent Television
Commission: Chief Executive Designate 1990, Chief Executive 1991-96.
'"
V[II tTVANDTHE tl3A !9R!-92
Michael Grccn Carlton Communications: Chicf Exccutive 1983-91, Chairman
1983-. Carlton Tclcvision: Chairman 1991-94.
Leslic Hill Ccntrallndepcndent Television: Managing Director 1987-91. Chaiml:m
and Chief Exccutivc \991-95.
Lord (Clivc) Hollick MAl: Chief Executive 1974-. Meridian Broadcasting:
Chairman 1992-96. (Life Pcerage \99\.)
Lad)' (Shirlcy) Littler Indepcndent Broadcasting Authority: Director of
Administration 1983-86. Deputy Director Gencral 1986-89, Acting Director
General 1989 1990. Director Gencral 1990. (Centre of picture; with Clare
Mulholland, Deputy Director of Tclevi~ion, on right. and Barbara Hosking.
Controller. Information Services.)
David J\:1cCall Anglia Television: Chicf Executivc 1976-96. Anglia Television
Group: Chief Executive 1986-96.
Sir Dal·id Nicholas independent Television News: Editor 1977-89. Chief Executive
1977-91. ChairmHn 1989-91. (Knightcd 1989.)
Profcs.wr Sir Alan Peacock Commi!ltt on Financing the BB C: Chainnan 1985-86.
(Economist who has held many senior academic appointments - particularly
relating to Public Finance - and governmental advisory roles. Knighted 1987.)
J\"1arcus Plantin London Weekend Television: Director of Programmes 1991-92.
lTV Network Centre: Network Dirc(:tor 1992-97.
David Plowright Granada Television: Managing DireelOr 1981-87. Chairman
1987-92.
Stewart Pun-is Independent Television News: Programmc Editor News (1/ Tell
1980-83. Editor Chanllel Four Nt'II·.!· 1983-86. Depuly EdilOr ITN 1986-89,
Editor 1989-91. Editor-in-Chief 1991-.
Andrew Quinn Granada Television: Managing Director 1987 92. Chief Execulive
1992. Independent Television Network Centrc: Chief Exccutive 1992-95. (Previously
Managing Dircctor Granada Cable and Satellite 1983-87.)
Gerry Robinson Granad<l Group: Chief Excculive 1991-96, Chairman 1996-.
LIST OF PLATES
Peter Rogers Independen! BroadcaslingAulhority: Directorof Finance 1982-90,
Independent Television Commission: Deputy Chief Executive and Director of
Finance 1991-96. Chief Executive 1996-.
Sir George Russell Independent Broadca~ting Authority: Member 1979-86.
Chairman 1988-90. Independent Television Commisl>ion: Chairman [991-97.
Independent Television News: Chaimlan 1988. (Knighted 1992.)
Urian Tesler London Weekend Television: Managing Director 1976-90. Deputy
Chairman I 982-S-t Chairman 1984-92. LWT(Holding. .. ) pic: Deputy Chairman
[990-94.
Lord Thomson (of Monificth) Independent Broadea~tillg Authority: Deputy
Chairman 1980. Chairman 198 [-88. (Life Peemgc 1977.)
John Whitney Independent Broadcasting Authority: Director General 1982-89.
(Pictured on left. at the IBA's farewell party for Lord Thomson in December
1988).
Lord Windlesham Author(with Rich:trd Rampton) of RepoI1 of DlWh OIl 'he Rock.
(Amongst previous roles was Minister of State at the HOllie Office 1970-72.
Minister of State for Northem Ireland 1972-73 and Managing Director of ATV
Network 1975-81),
Qui wilh Ihe IIJA - in with the ITC
The high degree of regulatol), continuity maintained across the change~ brought
about by the Broadcasting Act 1990 is Yi~ible by comparing the picture of the
Members of the last Authority in 1990 and the first Commission in 1991.