ITV in legal battle over top shows

Sep 23 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

ITV has launched a £38m legal claim against network partner STV in a row over the Scottish broadcaster’s move to drop shows such as The Bill.

STV has opted out of several peak-time shows to cater for regional audiences, but ITV claims it has done so retrospectively in breach of network agreements.

The firm, which has been attempting to settle the row for more than a year, said STV was also wrongly attempting to claim a rebate against “written-off“ shows which were never transmitted.

ITV said: “Given that we are a commercial organisation, with responsibilities to our shareholders, we are left with no option but to take legal action to recover this sizeable debt.”

Other hit programmes at the centre of the row include detective series Midsomer Murders and Lewis, as well as drama Wuthering Heights. STV was unavailable for comment.

ITV said STV’s debts had mounted as a result of it “not honouring its contractual obligations”.

But the Scottish broadcaster said at the time of its interim results last month that it had taken greater control of its output this year to develop “fresh new programming and develop a relevant schedule for Scotland“.

Despite falling revenues from its broadcasting business in the first half of the year as the recession hits advertising, STV said it was on track to outperform the market in the third quarter of the year thanks to an improving position in both national and Scottish sales.