ITV AND BBC CHANGE ITS PROGRAMMING STRATEGIES IN THE CORONAVIRUS CONTEXT

ITV announced a similar plan to that of BBC, consisting of its programming plan to place its focus on news content and postpone entertainment shows. Carolyn McCall, ITV’s CEO confirmed that the company will continue to broadcast its six channels and offer hundreds of hours of free content every week, accessible to everyone in the UK. “All businesses are being deeply affected and ITV is no exception, but as a Public Service Broadcaster, we remain committed to doing everything we can to continue to provide news, drama, entertainment and factual programs to our viewers to keep them informed about this crisis and to offer them an escape from it,” McCall said. “The health of our own people and those who work with us remains our priority and we will implement the latest official guidance. I would like to thank everybody for the extra efforts being made in every team across ITV.  We are also working closely with our partners in the industry to keep our shows on air.” 

“The Voice UK,” which will be postponed this year. Other shows such as “Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway,” will continue, but will exclude live audiences for the first time in its 16-series run as a means of measure against the pandemic. “Soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street” will continue to air three episodes a week with reduced filming schedules.

ITV’s news edition will include a weekly Monday night show called “Coronavirus Report" to discuss news related to issues viewers are facing as a result of the pandemic. The segment is produced by ITV news. ITV has not added additional content to its catch-up service ITV Hub, but did confirm that its SVOD BritBox will be updated with boxsets from all 4 from April. “There will be further developments and challenges ahead, such as filling the gaps left by the suspension of sporting events,” Kevin Lygo, ITV director of television said. ‘So we will continue to keep viewers fully informed as we progress. We are already seeing new ideas coming through which might provide innovative new ways of producing TV in these uniquely challenging times.”