History CITV

1 history

1.1 watch it! , children s itv: years (1980–1989)
1.2 stonewall productions era (1989–1991)
1.3 central regains control (1991–2000)
1.4 cutbacks (2001–2008)
1.5 increase in budget (2009–present)

history
watch it! , children s itv: years (1980–1989)

before being known children s itv, timeslot children s programmes on itv network briefly branded watch it!. watch it! brand started on 29 december 1980 , presented live duty continuity announcer in each itv region.

the notion of networking children s continuity first suggested within itv far 1970s, fierce regional identities prevalent - including scheduling, presentation , programming - idea stalled until late 1970s, when iba began express concern itv shows children not consistent or networked. on many occasions, itv regions able broadcast whatever programmes wished; many non-children s programmes appeared, such little house on prairie . in december 1980, itv announced first concerted effort @ more coherent approach children s output, introduction of watch it! each weekday 4.15 pm 5.15 pm, after iba continued emphasized issues.

watch it! conceived promotions department @ atv, implementation of branding differed region region, transmitted locally , never provided on network basis. atv provide different animations each season, freshen available each company. regions, including southern/tvs , granada, use own station announcers during watch it! airtime.

shortly after start of new franchises in 1982, itv stations raised concerns watch it! had not gone far enough address previous concerns. central s controller of children s programmes, lewis rudd, suggested different approach presentation method. result, central promotions department came initial concept children s itv. new devised, , links between programmes pre-recorded using presenters drawn constituent programmes. networking arrangements similar in place transmission of schools programmes - links played out central , component programmes came supplying companies.

children s itv went air on monday 3 january 1983, between 4 pm , 5.15 pm each weekday afternoon, fifteen minutes being filled repeat of 1 of pre-school programmes shown @ lunchtime same day. featuring different presenter each month (usually children s television), links pre-recorded in advance in small studio @ london facility called molinare, using single locked-off camera. first set design rocket ship , used first few months. concept retired, , set , style of presentation used began reflect artist presenting month or programme he/she fronted. 1984, links still being recorded, using common, stylized set known network control. exterior of fictitious location featured in animations , stings. technical considerations left system flawed. each programme coming different playout source (usually of originating itv company), , each link being pre-recorded (played out central), things went wrong on air: programmes rolled , links cut short. programmes fail appear , presenter left on screen. because each link recorded slot available, presenter hold final pose few moments transmission controller @ central had leave on screen in case. pre-recording links meant late schedule changes not referenced.

in september 1985, bbc revamped own children s presentation introduction of children s bbc . using bbc1 announcer booth @ bbc television centre, later dubbed broom cupboard , phillip schofield provided links between programmes. format of small self-op continuity studio using 1 single presenter (and occasional puppet) continued in largely same format until 1993, broadcast live , allowed looser, more relaxed style of presentation rival itv service.

children s itv went live 2 years later. using small presentation studio @ broad street studios - had become available since in-vision continuity central region dropped - former central announcer gary terzza , debbie shore presented live links large set built transmitting station. although studio space small, designers use of plate glass mirror gave effect of larger set. new live format gave brought great deal of flexibility; timings altered, schedule changes reflected , breakdowns dealt in continuous manner. in 1988, format refreshed again new single presenter, mark granger, replacing terzza , shore, in smaller, more basic studio set included in-vision monitors showing vt clock of next scheduled item.

the stonewall productions era (1989–1991)

from 3 april 1989, independent production company stonewall productions won contract produce children s itv presentation. stonewall productions headed michael jackson, central staffer used expertise prepare suitable application.

whereas central had restricted links station s former in-vision presentation studio, stonewall chose not use fixed set, instead presented links various areas of central s headquarters @ broad street in birmingham, utilising rotating team of presenters included clive warren (now dj), jeanne downs (a singer), jerry foulkes (a producer left children s itv on 22 december 1989) , large puppet dog called scally.

central regains control (1991–2000)

citv logo (1998–2006)

central won contract produce continuity links 1 april 1991, choosing revert links small in-vision studio , using 1 regular presenter, tommy boyd. during 1991–93 era, greater importance being placed throughout television on promotions (trailers) way of detailing areas of schedule viewers might not know them. 1993 invitation tender provision of children s itv service specified minimum number of high quality trailers successful applicant must produce on term of contract. large promotions department - , strong, highly credible reputation presentation within itv network - contract remained central.

in february 1993, in-vision presentation dropped first network centre controller of children s & daytime programming dawn airey (a former central management trainee) steven ryde providing live out-of-vision continuity links featuring wide variety of animated characters. on 6 september 1993, citv extended start @ 3.30 pm, when itv network centre decided move pre-school children slot 12.10 pm, branded under citv in afternoon slot. around same time, children s itv name changed citv, having been used in form or since previous year. however, children s not removed logo until monday 2 september 1996, same month digital on-screen graphic (dog) introduced.

presentation service moved in 1997 when central moved new, smaller studios @ gas street studios in birmingham, continued until monday 25 may 1998, when new in-vision service introduced new controller of itv children s output, nigel pickard. steven ryde became producer stephen mulhern , danielle nicholls becoming new presentation team. new logo introduced (with traces predecessors), , henceforth service referred citv, until 2006 re-brand, being broadcast studio b @ central s gas street studios.

central retained contact produce citv further 2 years, seeing off 2 rival bids other itv companies. shortly after launch, citv started sharing studio space west midlands edition of central news in september 1999, allowing room large stylised set created company called dorans propmakers. main studio central news west had been used live music performances during citv.

cutbacks (2001–2008)

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.

increase in budget (2009–present)

in july 2009, itv announced channel have increased budget. emma tennant, controller of citv, told showcomotion conference commissioning budgets channels next year going smaller, except citv, growing – not spend additional money on original commissions . made clear due tight budgets may lead more acquisitions rather new programmes being commissioned.