Phil Henfrey says ITV Wales still has a key role to play in the democratic process
Last week ITV Wales unveiled its plans to cover the National Assembly General Election to the potential winners and losers of the campaign – the politicians themselves. Assembly Members from across the parties attended the launch at the Wales Millennium Centre together with members of ITV Wales’ election team, including presenters Jonathan Hill, Andrea Benfield and political editor Adrian Masters.
As well as comprehensive daily coverage on our flagship news programme Wales Tonight, we are producing nearly 10 hours of additional programming in English and Welsh. We will have in-depth interviews with each of the party leaders; regular reports and analysis from the campaign trail; publication of the only regular Welsh opinion poll (You Gov’s ‘Wales 1000’); an hour-long televised leaders’ debate from Cardiff’s Coal Exchange, and a comprehensive results service. For S4C, we’re producing special election editions of Y Byd Ar Bedwar and Hacio.
Some people may be surprised to learn about this substantial editorial commitment considering the gloomy headlines that surrounded ITV Wales in the not-too-distant past. However, with a new management team transforming ITV, the picture in Wales is looking far more encouraging.
Of course, there are challenges – ITV is a commercial company and there are many economic pressures to contend with as a public service broadcaster in the digital age. And there is still much discussion to be had before we can be sure what will happen after the current licence expires in 2014. But everybody at ITV wants to find a solution that will enable regional – and in Wales, national – news to continue on ITV and be competitive in the multi-channel, multi-platform market place.
Just last month, our Chief Executive Adam Crozier appeared before hundreds of colleagues from across ITV’s regional and network news operation to say that high quality news is part of the “heart and soul” of the new ITV. News is one of the eight key strategic areas that ITV is reviewing as part of its five-year Transformation Plan. As part of that, we recently announced a restructuring that will allow for more and closer co-operation between the various ITV News operations across the UK and in London.
Wales, of course, has its unique requirements. Not only politically because of devolution, but also because we are a constituent nation of the UK with our own characteristics, concerns and traditions. Like other key media players in Wales, we reflect the voices and aspirations of the different communities and localities across the country – but we also reflect the national picture in Wales.
It is for that reason that we looked recently to re-invigorate our political coverage. We want to produce a service that is popular with ITV viewers in Wales and commands the respect of politicians in Cardiff Bay and in Westminster. It is that renewal of purpose that will see us continue to provide a real alternative to the BBC in Wales – informing and connecting with audiences in a distinctive ‘ITV Way’.
More importantly, this output appears on one of the most popular networks in the UK. Genuine plurality only exists if people are watching. ITV continues to put a significant proportion of its Welsh current affairs programming in peak, often between two episodes of Coronation Street – one of the most popular programmes on any network in Wales. Moreover, ITV1 remains one of only two channels that provide dedicated news for the Nations and Regions of the United Kingdom – and that’s an important consideration when we talk about plurality in public service broadcasting.
Of course, as super fast broadband and 3G networks gain traction in Wales, so we will continue to adapt – both as a broadcaster and as a creator of content. But there are good reasons to be optimistic as we look forward to the next few years.
Still not a patch on STV and therefore not good enough. Look forward to the franchise being up for grabs again, then ITV can stick its ‘region’ of Wales and West.