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09/05/2008
ITV Presenters Hand Back Award
Presenters Ant and Dec will return their television comedy award after it was revealed that they didn't actually win it.
It has been a week of disgrace for ITV with a record fine of £5.68 million being handed down to the broadcaster yesterday by regulator Ofcom.
The Catherine Tate Show should have been the winner for the People's Choice Award, according to an independent report.
Olswang, a law firm based in London, said: "Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway was wrongly announced as the winner of the People's Choice Award. The correct winner was The Catherine Tate Show which, at the time of the announcement of the winner, had attracted the most votes."
The report revealed that British Comedy Awards organisers wished to seal the attendance of singer Robbie Williams who would be happy to present the award "if recipients were Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly".
However, at the time Williams was given the assurance that the comic duo would win, the winner was still unknown and "dependant upon the public vote".
However, the report added that "it could not be concluded that this was the reason why the wrong winner was announced".
ITV revealed the deceit as part of the statement responding to the fine which Ofcom say is "by far the highest imposed".
The broadcaster said said in response to the fine: "We welcome Ofcom's recognition of the 'wide ranging and timely' steps voluntarily undertaken by ITV. ITV has gone further than any other broadcaster in instigating an independent, systematic and comprehensive investigation into all allegations around premium rate services in its programmes.
"We believe that Ofcom's scrutiny of the evidence we provided will reassure viewers and rebuild the public's trust in ITV.
"It is clear that these serious breaches of trust were evidence of gross editorial errors of judgement designed, mistakenly, to enhance the viewer experience. In no case is there evidence that there were any corrupt attempts to generate further revenues."
ITV said it would reimburse viewers to a total of £7.8 million, which "is almost double the amount ITV actually received from the calls".
A spokesperson for Ant and Dec said that the revelation "was a surprise to them" and that they would be returning the award.
Actress Catherine Tate has not released a statement.
See: Ofcom Hits ITV With Record Fine
(DS)
It has been a week of disgrace for ITV with a record fine of £5.68 million being handed down to the broadcaster yesterday by regulator Ofcom.
The Catherine Tate Show should have been the winner for the People's Choice Award, according to an independent report.
Olswang, a law firm based in London, said: "Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway was wrongly announced as the winner of the People's Choice Award. The correct winner was The Catherine Tate Show which, at the time of the announcement of the winner, had attracted the most votes."
The report revealed that British Comedy Awards organisers wished to seal the attendance of singer Robbie Williams who would be happy to present the award "if recipients were Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly".
However, at the time Williams was given the assurance that the comic duo would win, the winner was still unknown and "dependant upon the public vote".
However, the report added that "it could not be concluded that this was the reason why the wrong winner was announced".
ITV revealed the deceit as part of the statement responding to the fine which Ofcom say is "by far the highest imposed".
The broadcaster said said in response to the fine: "We welcome Ofcom's recognition of the 'wide ranging and timely' steps voluntarily undertaken by ITV. ITV has gone further than any other broadcaster in instigating an independent, systematic and comprehensive investigation into all allegations around premium rate services in its programmes.
"We believe that Ofcom's scrutiny of the evidence we provided will reassure viewers and rebuild the public's trust in ITV.
"It is clear that these serious breaches of trust were evidence of gross editorial errors of judgement designed, mistakenly, to enhance the viewer experience. In no case is there evidence that there were any corrupt attempts to generate further revenues."
ITV said it would reimburse viewers to a total of £7.8 million, which "is almost double the amount ITV actually received from the calls".
A spokesperson for Ant and Dec said that the revelation "was a surprise to them" and that they would be returning the award.
Actress Catherine Tate has not released a statement.
See: Ofcom Hits ITV With Record Fine
(DS)
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08 May 2008
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08 August 2006
ITV chief Allen to leave broadcaster
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ITV plc Chief Executive Charles Allen has announced that he is to leave the broadcasting giant. Finance Director John Cresswell will be appointed interim CEO from 1st October and that Allen will "work to facilitate an orderly transition". The search for a permanent successor is starting immediately and headhunters are being appointed.
02 February 2004
ITV shares now trading on London Stock Exchange
ITV plc, the company formed by the merger of Carlton and Granada, has launched its shares on the London Stock Exchange. All dealing in Carlton and Granada shares closed on Friday, while ITV plc shares opened at 141 pence, reaching 146.25p by 4pm.
ITV shares now trading on London Stock Exchange
ITV plc, the company formed by the merger of Carlton and Granada, has launched its shares on the London Stock Exchange. All dealing in Carlton and Granada shares closed on Friday, while ITV plc shares opened at 141 pence, reaching 146.25p by 4pm.
13 May 2004
SMG settles differences with ITV over digital rights
Following the recent sale of the Scottish Media Group's (SMG) 25% GMTV stake to ITV plc, the two companies have reached an agreement on the use of the ITV brand name and the use by ITV plc of SMG's digital spectrum in Scotland.
SMG settles differences with ITV over digital rights
Following the recent sale of the Scottish Media Group's (SMG) 25% GMTV stake to ITV plc, the two companies have reached an agreement on the use of the ITV brand name and the use by ITV plc of SMG's digital spectrum in Scotland.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
