ITV Statement - Contract Righ

RNS Number : 7668F

ITV PLC

19 January 2010

 



19 January 2010

ITV Statement on Competition Commission's provisional decision on CRR remedy variations

There is an overwhelming case for the abolition of CRR as a disproportionate remedy, justified by the clear economic evidence of changes in the television advertising market since 2003. ITV believes CRR distorts the market and the fundamental relationship between advertisers and free-to-air broadcasters. Moreover it is highly detrimental to continued investment in original programme production and to the health of the UK creative industries.  This decision confirms the urgent need for a thorough and comprehensive review of the cumulative impact of regulation of the independent broadcasting sector. 

 This latest decision is based on the same misconception set out in the Competition Commission's previous Provisional Decision last September, namely that the "competitive environment is still very similar to that identified in the CC's 2003 report , "  a view shared by very few people familiar with today's media landscape and a conclusion that is contradicted by all available evidence. Only yesterday industry regulator, Ofcom, said in a statement regarding UK television advertising rules "in the last few years the TV sector has moved on with substantial increases in the take-up of digital services and in the number of available channels, and consolidation in the advertising buying sector". 

The changes described by Ofcom above and the arrival of unregulated global competitors such as Google have  transformed  the market in which ITV operates beyond recognition  and hugely increased competitive intensity  since 2003.    CRR is now an outdated remedy and should be removed in its entirety. Because the Competition Commission has failed to appreciate the seismic changes in the market over the last seven years it presumes that advertisers require the same level of protection and certainty that they enjoyed in 2003. This is clearly at odds with the overwhelming scale of change in the marketplace.

In its provisional decision, published on 15 September 2009, the Competition Commission set out a number of "possible variations to the undertakings".  In response to this ITV put forward a proposal to replace CRR with a new set of rules for advertisers (the Rules for the Protection of Advertisers - RPA), which would have provided more than sufficient protection and certainty. 

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Enquiries, ITV plc

Media

Ruth Settle            020 7157 3707 / 07946 346698

Louise Evans        020 7157 3710 / 07825 680994

Investor Relations

Christy Swords     0207 157 6572 / 07881 505783

Pippa Foulds         020 7 157 6555 / 07826 531887

 

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