ITV to introduce Pay Per View for ordinary TV shows

Mr E · 02-08-2010 12:17PM #1

Oooh, this is going to be unpopular.... What kind of ripple effects will this have for channels like TV3?

The British channel ITV is planning a massive big shake-up to boost revenue over the next five years, and is considering making viewers pay out for their favourite shows, including 'The X Factor', 'Britain's Got Talent', 'I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here' and long-running soap 'Coronation Street'.

A source revealed to the Daily Star newspaper: "This is going to rock television. Viewers aren't going to be happy that they'll have to pay for some of their favourite shows.

"But if it's a success it could secure the channel's finances."

It is believed that sister channels ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 could also introduce the new system.

ITV produced a loss of £2.7bn in 2008 but returned a profit of £25m last year.

No specific details for the 'pay per view' system have been revealed but Chairman Archie Norman and chief executive Adam Crozier are due to present a report to The City stating that the station can no longer survive on advertising funds and outlining a new five-year plan.

The TV strategy cannot be implemented until at least 2014 as the broadcaster is legally required to keep ITV free on terrestrial TV until then.

Minstrel27 · 02-08-2010 12:21PM

Unless ITV launch over here I do not see any issues with TV3

mike65 · 02-08-2010 12:39PM

THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN

Seriously, no-one will pay for ITV1 content, its far too awful with fomats that can be easily copied by BBC or C4 or Channel 5. Sticking this stuff behind a paywall would be madness.

icdg · 02-08-2010 02:49PM

For this to happen ITV would need to give up its Channel 3 licence and become an ordinary cable/satellite broadcaster. They've been reluctant to do this while analogue is still going but with DSO underway in the UK its a move they may seriously be considering.

The problem is, give up the Channel 3 licence and they give up their gifted capacity on Freeview and their automatic right to the EPG 103 position. You would almost certainly be guarenteed that the first thing Sky would do is boot ITV1 down to the bottom of the EPG and promote Sky1 to 103. They'd have no automatic right to 103 on Freeview or Virgin Media either. The 103 slot is a very valuable position in terms of being at the very top of the EPG and ITV would be very hesitant to give it up. They'd need to way up the advantages - no more news or regional programmes and being able to broadcast in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It would be the end of the ITV Network as we know it and STV and UTV would seriously need to consider their involvement in television if it came to fruition.

channelsurfer2 · 03-08-2010 12:31PM

update is that it2HD itv3HD and Itv4HD will all be exclusive to SKY HD Platform on satellite.....you will have to take the skyhd pack to get them..... no chance of them been available on skyireland here i would think. ITV1(UTV) is not going subscription as they are classed as a {PSB}... no mention of the ordinary itv2 3 and 4 going pay tv but they might as its part of a 5 year strategy to have 50% of their income on non-advertising related revenue. FREESAT HD s looking at this with very worried eyes I would say...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/03/itv-unveils-pay-tv-push

Gonzo · 03-08-2010 12:36PM

if that happens Irish subscribers will only half like half the HD channels that the UK has for more money.

mike65 · 03-08-2010 01:08PM

The BBC should see this as an opportunity, they have one HD channel are they looking to roll out any more? They should.

Minstrel27 · 03-08-2010 01:57PM

BBC One HD is coming in the Autumn.

Manc-Red · 03-08-2010 06:29PM

Coronation Street & Britain's Got Talent on PPV......???

I mean come on, who in their right mind would pay for that even if you we're interested in such shows??

popebenny16 · 03-08-2010 07:01PM

with the tories in power during the analogue switch off anything could happen, given the sky shareholding in ITV.

pa990 · 04-08-2010 02:02PM

it'll probably be the x factor final (and similar shows) would be PPV.

I dont see how the entire series could be made ppv

Minstrel27 · 04-08-2010 02:29PM

They will not be exclusively PPV. ITV make too much money from telephone voting.

Elmo · 05-08-2010 11:45AM

They might start out on the internet charging viewers for their Player, which would fit with UTV and STV and even TV3.

update is that it2HD itv3HD and Itv4HD will all be exclusive to SKY HD Platform on satellite.....you will have to take the skyhd pack to get them..... no chance of them been available on skyireland here i would think. ITV1(UTV) is not going subscription as they are classed as a {PSB}... no mention of the ordinary itv2 3 and 4 going pay tv but they might as its part of a 5 year strategy to have 50% of their income on non-advertising related revenue. FREESAT HD s looking at this with very worried eyes I would say...

It seems that Sky Premium Channels HD are only available on Sky, unlike the rules that relate to OfCom none of the Irish Regulators sought the availability of Sky HD on cable providers when the Sky VMTV deal was going through. As for ITV HD on UPC well this will prob happen, I could even see ITV insisting that ITV1 replaces UTV on 110, and begins providing Irish ad opt-outs. This might take a few years to happen.

mjsmyth · 08-08-2010 04:54PM

In a "Coming Soon" email I got from UTV 2 weeks ago, they talk abou their plans for the next few months and mention their forthcoming HD service.

Perhaps that will make it on to UPC instead of ITV 1 HD.

david23 · 08-08-2010 07:46PM

popebenny16 wrote: »

with the tories in power during the analogue switch off anything could happen, given the sky shareholding in ITV.

Sky's shareholding in ITV is now around 7% (they were forced to sell a chunk of their shares earlier this year). It's just a trade investment and not nearly large enough to have any influence over management or operating policies.

It was the Competition Commission that forced them to reduce their shareholding so it doesn't matter which Government is in power, Murdoch isn't pulling the strings at ITV.

11-08-2010 11:35AM

mjsmyth wrote: »

In a "Coming Soon" email I got from UTV 2 weeks ago, they talk abou their plans for the next few months and mention their forthcoming HD service.

Perhaps that will make it on to UPC instead of ITV 1 HD.

Have UTV given up on trying to get on the Sky Irish EPG?

Elmo · 11-08-2010 11:43AM

zorro2566 wrote: »

Have UTV given up on trying to get on the Sky Irish EPG?

Did they ever try? I would not be surprised if Granada prevented UTV and other ITV stations on the Irish Sky EPG when they bought TV3 in 2001. Or that TV3, ITV and Sky don't have a deal to prevent any ITV channel appearing on Sky's Irish EPG.

ITV to introduce Pay Per View for ordinary TV shows

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