OFCOM AND ITV REGIONAL PROGRAMMING

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That this House views with dismay proposals by Ofcom to reduce the public service obligation of ITV regional companies to produce high quality regional programming in the regions for viewers in those regions; believes that ITV has a strong tradition for producing regional political, current affairs, sport and documentary programmes specifically for each region; notes that the Ofcom review acknowledges that these regional programmes gain higher audiences on a slot-by-slot basis than general ITV output; expresses surprise that Ofcom is not linking discussion about reductions in ITV's licence payments with the maintenance of regional public service obligations at least until digital switchover; and calls on Ofcom to rethink its strategy.