STV production targets remain unchanged following independent production status denial
STV has described the decision by Westminster to block its bid to become an independent producer as ‘disappointing’ but said that it would continue with the same production targets, despite the set-back.
Speaking at a media gathering, Alan Clements, content director for STV, commented: “It was a disappointing and slightly mystifying decision by a Government that has said that it wants to deregulate barriers. However we are where we are and the decision has been made. There has been no reduction in my targets by not having the independent status and we will continue to make programmes for the BBC and a range of other broadcasters and we will just have to redouble our efforts with Living, Sky, Five and others in order to do that. It’s only a BBC issue for us, it’s not a Channel 4 issue or anyone else. We’re disappointed but we fight on’.
STV had been lobbying the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, until recently, to be categorised as an independent producer, rather than a broadcaster, which would have seen STV qualify to provide programmes that must be produced through independent companies by the BBC and Channel 4.
That status was denied less than a fortnight ago.
It was also revealed that the production developed by STV for BBC Scotland; Antiques Road Trip had been commissioned for another 30 episodes from January, while a new series following the story of the Scots/Irish in America had also been developed, entitled ‘Born Fighting’.
Also addressing the media were Bobby Hain, managing director of broadcasting and regulatory affairs at STV and Elizabeth Partyka, channel controller at STV.
Hain revealed that there were no developments in terms of the legal battle that STV faces with ITV in its opt-out strategy that will reach courts next year, and that it continued on as a ‘proud’ ITV licensee and also added that the recent marketing strategy developed by its in-house team and The Union, would be one it would continue to follow.
“The group of the ITV network was all set up to accommodate 15 different companies, so you had Granada and Carlton and you had all the different tables sitting around the table. It’s quite obvious when you have one party that owns 92 per-cent of it and the others are minority shareholders in the network, there is opportunity to streamline those arrangements and to move onto a different footing. We absolutely support and acknowledge that the ITV network arrangements are ripe for streamlining and we are moving to that in the longer term…whether or not there was any litigation, actually we do need a more streamlined and a different way of going forward,” added Hain.
STV’s offering for New Year was also revealed, with a one-hour special of Postcode Challenge set to air and the night will culminate with a recorded, one-hour version of The Hour, airing through until after midnight.