U.K. kidcasting woes
The coming year will determine the future shape of children's television in the U.K.--and the likelihood is that the BBC will emerge even stronger than before. Its commercial rivals are looking increasingly jumpy, with CiTV facing a budget cut of up to 25% due to the prolonged advertising recession. The network claims it can no longer afford to compete with the BBC, awash with cash thanks to a generous license fee hike and an effective cost-cutting program. With no prospect of an immediate upturn in revenues, the chances of ITV launching its own digital children's service look more remote, and some fear that it might abandon kids shows altogether.
January 3, 2002
Newsletter
