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Tv-am will launch in
1983 |
1980: Green light for breakfast
television |
Artificially 1969:
The A
shake-up of broadcasting franchises has paved the way for the launch of
breakfast television.
The Independent Broadcasting Authority announced the breakfast contract
will go to TV-AM and will launch in 1983, a year later than planned, to
lessen the impact on independent local radio.
It will also avoid clashes with a fourth channel launching in 1982 and
the impact on company revenues.
In regional franchises TSW, Television South West, will take over from
Westward, which was praised by the IBA for its control of management
problems but was faced with fierce competition.
TVS, South and South East Communications, will take over from Southern
which faced three times as much competition as any other company and was
praised for its religious and children's schedules.
The IBA said it ultimately chose companies with programme makers of
particular promise.
In separate statements both companies, which have a long established
history, said they were "shattered" by the decision.
The IBA's announcement today also shocked many with its decision to
award breakfast news to the new company TV-AM and not ITN.
The TV-AM consortium is headed by Peter Jay, former UK ambassador to
Washington, and the journalist David Frost.
Esther Rantzen, Anna Ford and Angela Rippon have been involved in the
bid for a year and will join as programme makers from its inception.
They will be joined by Michael Parkinson, Robert Kee and Mr Frost as
the presenters of the morning programme starting at 0615 GMT until 0915.
Mr Frost said the show would provide a "fast moving magazine programme"
for all the family.
IBA also announced changes within the remainder of the 15 companies
which fought against bids from 29 rival companies.
Yorkshire TV and Tyne Tees cannot be controlled by Trident, their
holding company but must be run separately with firm proposals by
February.
In the East and West Midlands, the new split area, ATV must restructure
the company and reduce the shareholding of its parent body to 51% by
February.