The hard-pressed UK commercial broadcaster ITV saw its total revenue in 2006 fall by 0.7% to £2,181 million (€3,205 million), while its net advertising revenues were down by 8% to £1,494 million. Although its flagship channel ITV1’s ad income fell by 12.5% in 2006, its digital services, though accounting for only around 10% of revenue, fared much better. All told, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, ITV News Channel, M&M and Citv posted a figure of £157 million, or 41.4% more than the previous year.
ITV has meanwhile temporarily suspended premium interactive services on all of its channels, as well as taken the interactive channel ITV Play off the air. The move follows allegations that viewers have been encouraged to call TV shows, not just on ITV but also BBC1 and Channel 4, when their calls could no longer have any bearing on the outcome of quizzes and competitions. The premium rate phone lines regulator Icstis is investigating several such instances, while the ITV has appointed Deloitte as independent auditors to conduct a complete review of all premium rate interactive services on its network. (CD)
