MPs attack 'downgraded' ITV news

MPs today attacked ITV over its dumping of News at Ten.

In an influential report they hit out at the "downgrading of the news service offered by ITV during peak time".

The MPs compl a i ned strongly at the moving of the ITV news to 10.30pm after months of uncertainty about its place in the schedules.

The bulletin was nicknamed News At When after it was constantly shifted to make way for films and other ratings winners. It meant ITV could earn more money from advertising by showing more popular programmes at the peak 10pm slot.

ITV is required by regulators to provide national news bulletins at a sensible time.

But critics claimed ITV had dumbed down after the main evening bulletin was shunted to 11pm. The 10pm bulletin, presented by Sir Trevor McDonald, aired at times ranging from 10.04pm to 11pm.

Sir Trevor, 64, even became embroiled when he demanded a regular 10.30pm slot. The news was recently given a permanent 10.30pm slot.

But MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee criticised ITV and the regulators, the Independent Television Commission, and Ofcom for allowing the change. They said today: "We deplore Ofcom's endorsement of the ITC decision to allow a down grading of the news service.

"A merged and thus more powerful ITV shows little interest in maintaining news coverage beyond the bare minimum imposed by legislation and laxly interpreted by the ITC and Ofcom."

They called for two news bulletins to be shown at peak times before 10.30pm.