APPENDIX 4
Memorandum submitted by ipc.tx
1. I am writing this on behalf of ipc.tx,
a division of IPC Magazines. We are the market leader for paid-for
TV listings guides, publishing TV Times, What's on TV and
TV & Satellite Week. We also publish the internet TV
guide unmissabletv.com.
2. Our print titles have a combined ABC
circulation of 2,712,686 weekly and a NRS readership of 8,334,000
adults.
3. Each magazine has a large weekly mailbag
from readers commenting on favourite programmes and current scheduling.
4. There was a flurry of letters in autumn
1998 and again in March 1999 generally opposed to the proposed
change for the ITN main weekday bulletin.
5. There has been little correspondence
since that date, except for occasional letters apparently lamenting
the lack of "big movies" as promised in the 9.00—11.00
pm slot.
6.However, we have some evidence of a decline
in time spent watching news programming.
7. In response to your inquiry, unmissabletv.com
conducted a three-week on-line survey of its readers during
the first three weeks in February.
8. Users were asked, "Since the demise
of News at Ten have you watched TV news:
9. The responses suggest that over one-third
have cut the amount of TV news that they watch:
— 38 per cent replied that they watched
less TV,
— 48 per cent the same amount,
— while only 14 per cent said they
watched more TV news.
10. unmissabletv's executive editor,
Colin Tough, says: "This survey indicates that moving ITV's
prime-time news has resulted in less of the UK's viewing public
catching up with what is happening in the world, both locally,
nationally and overseas."
We hope that this is useful to the Committee
and wish it well in its deliberations.
February 2000
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