Independent Television

Independent television in the UK, formed by a number of regional contractors and paid for by advertising. It began broadcasting in 1955. There are a varying number of regional channels, as well as national channels for news and breakfast programmes. Independent television companies are regulated by the Independent Television Commission (ITC), and are required to provide quality, independent productions, with provision for viewers with disabilities.

Independent television was set up by the 1954 Television Act, which created a regulatory body called the Independent Television Authority (ITA), subsequently the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), and today the Independent Television Commission (ITC). Franchises were awarded on a regional basis, the first franchise being the London area, and with other regions added progressively until the whole country was covered in 1965. At first there were few changes to the franchises, but in 1993 the franchise system was changed to require companies to bid competitively for the franchise in each area (subject to each bid meeting the ITC's standards for programme quality and a satisfactory business plan).