ITV head denies scheduling war with BBC

ITV BOSS Adam Crozier has denied claims Britain’s Got Talent has been scheduled to go head-to-head with forthcoming BBC talent show The Voice.

Britain’s Got Talent will broadcast from March 24 this year when previously it has run from mid-April.

However, Crozier insists BGT goes out at "the same time every year" and wished the BBC "good luck" with their rival show.  

“If the BBC want to go head-to-head, that’s up to them,” said the ITV Chief Executive at the Nations and Regions Media Conference in Salford.

“Competition is good, we’re very relaxed about it. We have terrific talent, Simon Cowell is back on the panel.”

ITV have spent a reported £45million to move to Salford Quays and Crozier stressed the importance of regional television.

“Transmission fees are a worry but being regional is part of our DNA,” he said.

“Getting the regionality right is more than enough for us. We lost it a bit but have got it back now.”

Four of last year’s top five dramas were shared across ITV1, ITV2 and ITV3, and Crozier revealed plans to refresh all the channel brands in order to provide sharper definition.

“I see drama and news as an investment,” he said.

“We have a positive cash position for the first time in ITV history.

“I believe we’re 30-40 per cent of where we need to get to. And right at the heart of that is creativity and great programmes.”

By Charlie Kennedy and James Bell