Over at Media Guardian, their big Ofcom news is that C4 has been cleared of any bullying on Celebrity Big Brother, but I don’t think that’s the big news from Ofcom today.
The really interesting news is the changes in advertising that are being announced. There are some smaller changes like the number of breaks allowed in programmes longer than an hour – they’re going up for PSB channels. So if you thought that you saw more breaks in longer form programmes in the multi-channel world than you did in the “terrestrial” world – you’re right. You did.
But the really interesting/disheartening news is the relaxations on shopping channels.
Against the background of falling advertising revenues, Ofcom has made changes to allow broadcasters to generate additional revenues from teleshopping.
It will be allowed for the first time on PSB channels, but only between midnight and 6am. The rule that limits non-PSB channels to broadcast only three hours of teleshopping a day will be relaxed.
In limiting teleshopping on PSB channels to overnight transmissions, Ofcom balanced the recognition that teleshopping services could contribute to PSB funding with its view that teleshopping content does not contribute to the public service remit.
In other words, you might soon see shopping after dark on ITV, C4 or Five.
In some respects, that can only be better than the dreadful Quiz Call which still pervades on Five when they’re not showing overseas sport. But as anyone who’s seen daytime TV on many digital channels will tell you, the extended “advertorials” for exercise machines and cleaning fluids are pretty tawdry. They’re not QVC quality.
Anyway, my prediction is that ITV puts together a decently produced show with a “name” presenter fairly quickly. We’ll have to wait and see.