Outgoing ITV Chief Attacks Channel 4

EDINBURGH, August 28:
Delivering the MacTaggart lecture at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television
Festival over the weekend, outgoing ITV chief executive Charles Allen attacked
Channel 4, saying that the broadcaster, which won the festival’s best
terrestrial channel award, should “grow up.”

In the controversial
speech, Allen said that it was time that "the enfant terrible of U.K.
broadcasting grew up,” adding that the broadcaster "enjoys very
significant privileges via its public ownership," while making
"absolutely no return to either the Treasury or to its shareholders."

He continued, "In exchange
for these privileges, you would expect Channel 4 to be held to a far tougher
set of obligations than its commercial competitors. Wrong. In key areas,
Channel 4 is delivering less than its commercial competitors. Less original
production, less production outside London, less news in and around peak, and
no children's programs to speak of."

He went on to say that
Channel 4 was "behaving like a 25-year-old still living at home, dipping
into mum's purse, even when it's got a fat pay check in its back pocket."

Allen also used the speech
as an opportunity to defend his own record at ITV, noting, "ITV1 is still
the number one U.K. channel in peak [time]. More people watch ITV1 than the
five largest commercial competitors combined. We still scale the ratings
heights."

The Festival this week
also presented channel of the year awards, to Channel 4 and BBC Four. The
personality of the year award went to Sir David Attenborough, whose Planet
Earth received the program of the
year honor. Russell T Davies, executive producer Doctor Who, was named industry player of the year.