ITV seeks go-ahead for 'News at 10.30'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.ITV has reignited the long-running dispute about the timing of News at Ten by asking television regulators to allow it to move the beleaguered bulletin to a permanent 10.30pm berth.
It has applied to the Independent Television Commission for consent to reschedule the flagship show fronted by Sir Trevor McDonald in the hope of ending its stand-off with BBC1's Ten O'Clock News. Executives want to portray the proposed move as a way of offering a better deal to viewers, who currently face a nightly dilemma over which of the two peak-time bulletins to watch.
They also want to rid the ITN show of the unflattering nickname "News at When?" because of its fluctuating time slots. With overrunning advertising breaks, it regularly starts two or three minutes later than scheduled, allowing its rival to lure viewers. And one day a week it is shunted into a later slot, often 11pm, to accommodate films or major dramas. ITV hopes the 10.30pm slot will enable it to improve on its ratings, which earlier this year fell as low as 2.2 million viewers, compared with 6.6 million for the same night's BBC bulletin.
However, any such change will reopen the acrimonious debate of almost five years ago which was provoked by ITV's controversial decision to move the programme to 11pm. The move drew condemnation from Tony Blair and veterans of the bulletin, including Sir Alastair Burnet and Michael Brunson, and was eventually reversed.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments