Page "ITV" Paragraph 5

The network has been modified several times through franchise reviews that have taken place in 1963, 1967, 1974, 1980 and 1991, during which broadcast regions have changed and service operators have been replaced.

Only one service operator has ever been declared bankrupt, WWN in 1964, with all other operators leaving the network as a result of a franchise review.

Weekend services were removed, with the exception of London, in 1964 and over the years more services were added including a teletext service and a national breakfast franchise, operating between 6. 00 and 9. 25am, in 1983.

The Broadcasting Act 1990 changed the nature of ITV ; the then regulator the IBA was replaced with a light-touch regulator the ITC, companies now able to purchase other ITV regional companies and franchises were now being awarded based upon a highest-bidder auction, with few safeguards in place.

This heavily criticized part of the review saw four operators replaced and the operators facing different annual payments to the treasury: Central television for example only paid £ 2000, despite holding a lucrative and large region because they were unopposed, while Yorkshire television paid £ 37. 7 million for a region of the same size and status due to heavy competition.