On Tuesday I discussed the creative and scheduling implications of ITV’s decision to cut the amount of Emmerdale and Coronation Street.
The move does have potential benefits for viewers.
But it is also important to acknowledge the implications of the decision for production staff.
Statements have been issued by the broadcasting union Bectu and performing arts and entertainment trade union Equity.
It is to be hoped that compulsory redundancies can be avoided.
It is also to be hoped that the decision to produce less of Emmerdale and Coronation Street frees up resources and airtime for other well-resourced programmes of quality.
We still don’t know what ITV plans to do earlier in the evening.
Might the 7.30pm slot accommodate a range of worthwhile programmes such as Tonight and the Martin Lewis Money Show plus some new formats?
Or could this mean a further streamlining of the schedule?
For the sake of argument, might ITV 1 move The Chase to 5.30pm and run the regional and national news between 6.30pm and 8pm?
The “extra” time in the afternoon could be filled relatively cheaply.
It must be stressed that there is no indication that ITV 1 is planning such a move.
However the very real economic problems facing the free-to-air channels – and therefore production staff – need to be highlighted.
Ad revenue is in decline, less is being commissioned, costs in some parts of the business such as drama production have risen significantly.
This means less is being commissioned.
Many who work in television are either freelancers or on short-term contracts.
With less being commissioned, some have struggled to find work or had to find ways to make money outside the industry.
Some may find more secure employment elsewhere and not return, even if the work may not be so creatively satisfying.
Arguably, this sort of crunch has been coming since the industry started to become more casualised in the 80s and 90s.
Anyone who has a permanent staff job in television – with a pension, holidays and as much security of employment as most other professional workers – is enormously fortunate.
It’s because I am concerned for the production community that I favour relaxing rules on advertising time, even though I well understand how some viewers hate excessive ad breaks.
ITV 1 must use the freed up resources and airtime for programmes of value and substance.
This cannot be a retraction by the country’s most important free-to-air commercial channel.
Acknowledgements
PICTURED: Coronation Street and Emmerdale logos. COPYRIGHT: ITV plc.