Lords warned over ITV1 CRR removal

The cost of advertising on ITV1 could rise by up to 10% if restrictions on the way airtime is sold on the channel are removed, the boss of a leading media agency has warned.
The House of Lords Communications Committee is currently reviewing TV advertising regulation in the UK, including the contract rights renewal (CRR) mechanism introduced in 2003 to protect advertisers from the loss of competition when Carlton and Granada merged to form ITV plc.

In a submission to the committee, OMD chief executive Steve Williams said that removal of the CRR could result in ITV significantly increasing the price of advertising slots on its flagship channel ITV1, reports Campaign Live.
“If you were to put a number on what could happen (if CRR was removed), it could be price rises in the region of 5% to 10%,” he said.