ITV plays the quality defence. (ITV seeks reduction in franchise payments which are claimed to lower programme quality)

Should the Government reconsider how much it takes from ITV companies? There were warnings last week that future investment in programming could be. under threat because the system is overburdened due to the high bids made by some companies to win their franchises.

The claims have added to the confused signals coming out of ITV on the subject of programming. A couple of weeks ago, the Independent Television Commission rapped the knuckles of some franchise holders -- notably Carlton and GMTV -- over their programming efforts.

Programme investment

That was followed by a stout defence by the ITV Network Centre of ITV output. Andrew Quinn, the Network …