Comedy Awards will not be aired
ITV vetoes rival broadcasters
ITV have refused to allow the British Comedy Awards to air on any rival channel this year.Producers had been in negotiations to take this year’s ceremony to another broadcaster after ITV ditched the event because of concerns about phone votes.
But reports in the trade press today say that ITV will insist on receiving footage of December’s event under the terms of its existing contract, but will simply refuse to show it.
The decision means ITV will be able to retain future rights to the show, depending on the results of the independent investigation by law firm Olswang.
Producers Michael Hurl Television had taken the show to rivals, with Channel 4 thought to most likely to air it, but this will not now happen.
However they will record the show with Jonathan Ross as host, and ITV will still pay for it, even though the footage will stay in the archive.
Olswang will be investigating claims that in the 2005 People's Choice Award, viewers were encouraged to keep voting after the winning show – Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway – had already been selected.
Published: 12 Oct 2007
