ITV has confirmed it has applied to the communications regulator Ofcom to begin the process of renewing the Channel 3 nations and regions licences in England, Border Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as applying to renew the national Channel 3 breakfast licence.
In a letter sent on 29 March 2023 to the Ofcom Chief Executive Melanie Dawes, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lucy Frazer noted that ITV and STV as current Channel 3 Licence holders continue to fulfil their core purposes as PSBs (Public Service Broadcasters) and communicated her decision to permit Ofcom to renew the licences.
Carolyn McCall, ITV’s Chief Executive said: “The new framework in the draft Media Bill will be fundamental to ITV’s future as a PSB. ITV is confident that the proposed reforms will give us the certainty to commit to renewing our Channel 3 licence in 2024 and to continue to deliver our public service provisions for a further 10 years and we would ask the government to urgently make available Parliamentary time for the legislation to be passed.”
The Media Bill, which was published in April, ended a long period of uncertainty with the media sector amid fears over the privatisation of Channel 4.
ITV has urged the government to allocate Parliamentary time for the Bill before the election – expected by December 2024.
The new licences will run for 10 years from 2024.
