Ofcom renews UK independent TV owners’ licences

Editor | 20-02-2014

In a move that the regulator says will guarantee the long-term profitability of the UK independent TV sector, Ofcom has renewed the broadcasting licences for Channel 3 (ITV, STV and UTV) and Channel 5.

Following acceptance of terms by the licensees, the new licences will run for ten years from 1 January 2015 with ITV continuing to provide the Channel 3 service in England, Wales, the Border region, the Channel Islands and the national breakfast service. STV will cover northern and central Scotland; and UTV serves viewers in Northern Ireland. The Channel 5 licence covers all of the UK.

Ofcom consulted on the programming obligations for the Channel 3 and Channel 5 licences, proposals to change the areas covered by two licences held by ITV, and the methodology for determining the financial terms for the licences in February 2013. It confirmed that it would renew the licences and set out the terms for renewal, which all the licensees have now accepted.

Commenting on the move, Ed Richards, Ofcom’s chief executive, said: “The renewal of the Channel 3 and 5 licences is an important step in securing a sustainable future for commercial public service broadcasting in the UK over the next decade.”