Save Kids TV says it deplores GMTV’s kids cutbacks

Save Kids TV says ITV should reconsider its decision to scale back kids programming on UK breakfast time broadcaster GMTV.

UK free-to-air broadcaster ITV, which recently bought Disney out of GMTV, said last week it is reviewing kids output at GMTV and scaling back. The departure of GMTV COO Clive Crouch was announced at the same time.

Industry group SKTV said that it deplored the ITV  decision.

Anna Home, former head of BBC children’s programmes and now chair of the Save Kids’ campaign said: “At a time when considerable concern is being voiced about the scarcity of UK children’s content on TV outside the BBC, SKTV deplores ITVs decision to decommission the live elements of GMTV’s children’s output which will now consist only of cartoons.”

She added: “SKTV calls on the new management of ITV to re consider the whole of its children’s output and in the light of its improved financial position, to increase rather than decrease its commissions in this genre.”