The launch of ITV Local is part of the emerging broadband strategy within ITV.
For the last half-century ITV and the local papers in our region have stood alongside each other. Now we're in the same market — very much in the same market.
ITV1 can no longer guarantee an income stream, especially with other people in the digital marketplace.
The heart of ITV Local is public participation.
What's pushing the BBC is they see this as an expansion of their public service remit. We see ITV Local, and broadband, as an opportunity to access new markets. My view of the BBC and its broadband plans are the same as newspapers'; that it is all very well, but there should be a proper market-interest test because they are a publicly funded broadcaster.
We've beaten BT and the BBC [to trial broadband], and have something that'll knock their socks off. TV has come of age with ITV Local.
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