Channel 3 (UK)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Channel 3 is the collective name given to the group of United Kingdom television broadcasters that are normally available on the third analogue terrestrial TV frequency, comprising fifteen regional Channel 3 broadcasters (known almost universally as ITV or ITV Network), the national breakfast franchise (currently GMTV), and the national teletext provider (currently Teletext Ltd). The Channel 3 companies (normally only referred to as such by official bodies such as the regulator, Ofcom) are the oldest and most watched commercial broadcasters in the UK and are universally available; as such they are obliged by the terms of their licences to fulfil various public service commitments.
The term Channel 3 was first introduced for the Channel 3 Licences granted under the Broadcasting Act 1990. Prior to this, the channel had no legal overall name, but was usually collectively referred to, both by the contractors themselves, as well as their regulator, the Independent Broadcasting Authority, as Independent Television (hence the name ITV). The licence was prior to this issued by the Government to the IBA and the various companies were issued programme contracts by the IBA.
Contents |
[edit] Organisation
Each of the 15 regional franchisees are represented at the ITV Network Centre, where national network programming is scheduled. Networked programmes are mostly contributed by the regional companies although some are commissioned by the Network from independents. In addition, the entire network is obliged to broadcast national news sourced by a common contractor (currently ITN). In addition, regional programming is commissioned by each regional franchisee. All franchisees are obliged to opt out of national programming (except for the national news) but generally prefer not to. At present, STV, UTV, ITV1 Wales and ITV1 Border are more likely to opt out of network programming due to higher regional commitments in their respective franchise areas.
Since 1983, a national breakfast franchise has also been awarded, broadcasting between the hours of 6am and 9.25am every morning.
[edit] National teletext provider
The Public Teletext Licence [1] allows the holder to broadcast a text-based information service around the clock on Channel 3 (as well as Channel 4 and S4C) frequencies. Originally held from 1974 by ORACLE, the service is now provided by Teletext Ltd., whose news, sport and TV listings pages rival that of the BBC's television offering, Ceefax. Teletext Ltd. also provides digital teletext for the Channel 3 services, as well as the text output for both Channel 4 and S4C (which is covered under the same licence) and Five (under a separate licence).
[edit] Digital Channel 3
Since 1998, each of the Channel 3 franchisees have received gifted capacity on digital terrestrial television (DTT). As per the original agreement, each regional ITV contractor broadcasts its Channel 3 service from 9:25am to 6:00am daily, with the breakfast operator broadcasting in the remaining hours. However, unlike analogue broadcasts, the assigned capacity across DTT is able to carry multiple television services, which like Channel 3, are broadcast by the regional franchisee between the hours of 9:25am and 6:00am, with the breakfast contractor operating between 6:00am and 9:25am.
At present, all franchisees opt to broadcast ITV plc-owned channels, being ITV2, ITV3, ITV4 and the CITV Channel, as opposed to broadcasting their own. Up until 2002, UTV or Northern Ireland carried a service known as UTV2, while both Scottish and Grampian opted to carry a service known as S2. The breakfast operator, currently GMTV, is obliged to broadcast between the hours of 6:00 and 9:25am daily. Alongside the Channel 3 GMTV service, GMTV also broadcasts GMTV2, which is broadcast on the same capacity as ITV2 and the CITV Channel. The company also holds a third GMTV3 licence, however prefers to sell its gifted capacity to ITV plc to broadcast ITV3 24 hours a day.
Channel 3 shares its space with Channel 4 on Multiplex 2, known as Digital 3&4.
[edit] Public service broadcasting
The right granted by Ofcom of Channel 3's nationally-available status on both analogue and digital television comes with responsibility, in the form of public service broadcasting. Alongside the BBC, Channel 4 and Five, the members of the ITV Network and GMTV all have a responsibility to broadcast various programming of public importance on their analogue stations. This includes quotas for news, current affairs, independent and European programming, children's and religious programming, and output containing subtitles, signing and audio description. In addition, Channel 3 stations are legally obliged to screen party election broadcasts on behalf of all the major political parties, and also other political events such as the Budget.
