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| ITV executives criticise 'arrogant' BBC as News at Ten row escalates | ITV executives criticise 'arrogant' BBC as News at Ten row escalates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| ITV news executives are privately seething about the BBC’s response to its revamped 10pm bulletin and have accused their rival of “arrogance”. | |
| Insiders at ITV expressed surprise at BBC1 anchor Huw Edwards’ triumphant reaction to the higher viewing figures for his bulletin since its rival News at Ten was revamped with Tom Bradby as the main anchor. | Insiders at ITV expressed surprise at BBC1 anchor Huw Edwards’ triumphant reaction to the higher viewing figures for his bulletin since its rival News at Ten was revamped with Tom Bradby as the main anchor. |
| Describing the BBC as a “massive gorilla on the block”, one senior ITV news executive said the channel had been shocked by Edwards’ response in Facebook and Twitter posts. | Describing the BBC as a “massive gorilla on the block”, one senior ITV news executive said the channel had been shocked by Edwards’ response in Facebook and Twitter posts. |
| “We are just trying something a bit different but their attitude is such they are trying to smash and crush us,” he said. “Their arrogance has got to such a level.” | “We are just trying something a bit different but their attitude is such they are trying to smash and crush us,” he said. “Their arrogance has got to such a level.” |
| The row escalated after Edwards poked fun at his rival on Facebook for “conspiring to lose”4.2 million viewers who had watched the “excellent Doc Martin” at 9pm, pointing out that the BBC attracted more than twice ITV’s audience for its 10pm bulletin. | The row escalated after Edwards poked fun at his rival on Facebook for “conspiring to lose”4.2 million viewers who had watched the “excellent Doc Martin” at 9pm, pointing out that the BBC attracted more than twice ITV’s audience for its 10pm bulletin. |
| He rammed home the message on Twitter. | He rammed home the message on Twitter. |
| Happy to report business as usual at Ten, whatever others may wish. 4.4m v 2m. Back to work with a smile. Diolch! pic.twitter.com/Ryi3ovvUIu | Happy to report business as usual at Ten, whatever others may wish. 4.4m v 2m. Back to work with a smile. Diolch! pic.twitter.com/Ryi3ovvUIu |
| While ITV executives declined to go on the record to avoid “tit-for-tat point scoring”, they expressed their surprise at his behaviour. | |
| The ITV bulletin benefits from strong preceding shows at 9pm whereas figures suggest viewers turn on the BBC at 10pm. On Tuesday night, some 4 million watched the BBC news, 24% of the viewing public, 1 million more than watched the main 9pm drama River. | The ITV bulletin benefits from strong preceding shows at 9pm whereas figures suggest viewers turn on the BBC at 10pm. On Tuesday night, some 4 million watched the BBC news, 24% of the viewing public, 1 million more than watched the main 9pm drama River. |
| On ITV the opposite tends to be true. On Tuesday night 4 milion watched Lewis, a 19% share, with roughly half those viewers turning off or over at 10pm, leaving just 2.1 million, or 12.5% of the audience, to watch the news. | On ITV the opposite tends to be true. On Tuesday night 4 milion watched Lewis, a 19% share, with roughly half those viewers turning off or over at 10pm, leaving just 2.1 million, or 12.5% of the audience, to watch the news. |
| It is partly to address this slide that ITV has poured resources into News at Ten, which, although award-winning before Bradby was made sole anchor three weeks ago, has long struggled to gain any traction against a resurgent BBC news. | It is partly to address this slide that ITV has poured resources into News at Ten, which, although award-winning before Bradby was made sole anchor three weeks ago, has long struggled to gain any traction against a resurgent BBC news. |
| Although he said he wished ITV “well”, Edwards’ accusation of “creative handling of audience figures” caused particular consternation at the commercial channel. | Although he said he wished ITV “well”, Edwards’ accusation of “creative handling of audience figures” caused particular consternation at the commercial channel. |
| ITV’s own figures suggest that, when the news is shown in its main slot of 10pm, it has averaged 2 million since the relaunch, up 500,000 on the year. However, these figures include HD and ITV1+1 viewing, leaving rival broadcasters to claim the real figures should be closer to a 1.7 million average. | |
| The row is likely to stir political controversy. In September, culture secretary John Whittingdale surprised an audience of TV executives when he questioned why the BBC would run its main flagship bulletin against ITV in the first place. | The row is likely to stir political controversy. In September, culture secretary John Whittingdale surprised an audience of TV executives when he questioned why the BBC would run its main flagship bulletin against ITV in the first place. |
| The BBC moved its main news bulletin to 10pm in 2000 after ITV vacated the slot. In 2008 the commercial channel moved its main news bulletin back to 10pm. | The BBC moved its main news bulletin to 10pm in 2000 after ITV vacated the slot. In 2008 the commercial channel moved its main news bulletin back to 10pm. |
| The BBC said in a statement: “We are proud that more than 4 million people a night have been tuning into our 10 o’clock news bulletin for 10 years. | |
| “We are always aiming to offer them the best possible news analysis from home and abroad.” |