Politics: Party `boredcasts'
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.Television bosses are believed to be on the verge of proposing the abolition of party political broadcast, an institution since the 1950s. They are ready to say parties should lose their right to the five- and 10-minute broadcasts, screened before the BBC's Nine O'Clock News and ITV's News at Ten.
Parties may also find themselves facing a demand that they forfeit air- time allocated to them after the Budget and that election broadcasts, allowed during campaigns, should be no longer than three or four minutes rather than the present five or ten minutes.
A report in today's Guardian says the proposals - to be outlined in the next few weeks in a joint consultation document from the BBC and the Independent Television Commission, which governs commercial television - are prompted by concerns that viewers are becoming bored with politics and take the chance during the broadcasts to switch off.
"There are just too many on the television now," an executive told the paper. "It will help both sides if the broadcasts are only allowed during election time, when people's minds are more focused on politics."
Last year Labour and the Conservatives were allowed 10 broadcasts each - five party political broadcasts and five party election broadcasts during the election campaign. The Liberal Democrats were allowed seven.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments