PACT slams ITV and BBC, wants boost for 'indy' production

net1

UK broadcasting trade association PACT* has strongly criticised the ITV network for being seven months late in reaching an obligatory "terms of trade" agreement with its members. Chief executive John McVay said his 900 members would be formally complaining to the UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom if more rapid progress wasn't made. PACT has already struck a bargain with Channel 4 and 'five'. "It's a nightmare," said McVay, complaining that since the merger earlier this year between Granada Group and Carlton Television into ITV PLC, there was far too much confusion between the new merged entity, and ITV Network Centre as to which was responsible for commissioning. "There are serious questions about the independence of Network Centre," said McVay. It is understood that in January Ofcom gave ITV three months to conclude its negotiations with PACT.

However, McVay didn't shirk from also putting the BBC into his gun sights. "The current [25 per cent] quota isn't radical enough," he told the Broadcasting Press Guild, saying PACT was looking for a dramatic increase to 50 per cent of the BBC's commissioning by value, and had already informed Ofcom of its demands. "The BBC is a vertically integrated dinosaur. We want ideas to win through wherever they come from. We want Granada to win commissions from the BBC, and Fremantle to grow, and every one of our other members to gain a better share. In-house production is wasteful. " The BBC spends about £1.7bn on commissioned programmes each year. In the latest BBC Report & Accounts, the BBC states it allocates £323m with the UK independent sector.
*Producers Alliance for Cinema & Television