Cutbacks .282001.E2.80.932008.29 CITV

first citv channel logo (2006–2009)

during 2001, citv s budget cut 17% due advertising recession, leading citv s controller janie grace publicly criticising carlton , granada television, main controlling forces in network, underinvestment in itv s children s service. grace went further , complained regulator itc, claiming citv unlikely fulfil range of programming commitments in following year. grace sought support itc creation of separate citv ltd company allow more children s output made in-house - proposal fell apart due need change in law , support office of fair trading. further cuts took place again during 2002 brought total cutback 25% of overall budget (£30million less).

despite cutbacks, itc noted citv had sustained impressive schedule , gave factual material fresh , continued produce dramas after citv celebrated 20th birthday in january 2003, janie grace resigned post, before nigel pickard named itv s new director of programmes. pickard pledged produce 80 more hours of children s programming in 2003, against target of 520 hours in 2002 , extend range of programmes include more factual , topical programmes , more mixed entertainment , drama, once again, concerns citv , structure highlighted angus fletcher, president of jim henson television europe, , anne wood, founder of ragdoll productions, earn money unreliable advertising market, unlike bbc worldwide likes of teletubbies, tweenies , bob builder became key money earners corporation.

steven andrew took on itv s controller of children , youth, overseeing merger of carlton , granada s children s departments. andrew began looking @ possibility of launching citv channel, had been put on hold budget cuts. on-screen, various changes continuity presenting team saw no less 8 additions , replacements in space of 4 years. september 2004, itv plc announced closure of presentation , transmission facilities in birmingham, signalling end of citv continuity central. presentation relocated granada in manchester , in-vision continuity replaced voice overs.

further cuts took place in 2005 added perceived rising costs of original production , effects on advertising revenues following ban ofcom on junk food advertising within children s schedules 2007 , increasing competition cbbc , countless digital children s channels new programmes (especially imported cartoons, typically america). in summer of 2006, itv closed down in-house children s production unit, part of itv s on-going process of restructuring itv productions, , blaming closure because of competitive production environment, though itv denied intention of ditching children s programming network schedule. @ end of 2006, citv s weekday afternoon strand on main itv network cut off , citv got tv channel.