ITV has confirmed it is in “ongoing discussions” with the Independent Television Commission about the fate of the weekday ITV Nightly News.
Industry insiders claim the broadcaster is negotiating to have the bulletin moved to a permanent 10.30pm slot, in a bid to bring stability that is lacking in the current arrangement.
However, a spokeswoman would only confirm that ITV was in talks with the ITC “regarding the news as a whole on ITV, as part of a much broader discussion”.
News at Ten was scrapped on 8 March, 1999, after 31 years and was replaced by the ITV Nightly News at 11pm before changing to its current moving slot near 10pm at least three nights a week and 11pm on the other two.
The move sparked widespread debate four years ago, including a call by Commons media select committee chairman Gerald Kaufman to reinstate the bulletin at 10pm.
The impact of the network news on regional bulletins has also been on ITV’s agenda of late, leading to plans for closer integration of the two bulletins.
The ITC is expected to discuss the possible move in a meeting next month.
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