The Independent Television Commission (ITC) licensed and regulated commercial television services in the United Kingdom (except S4C in Wales) between 1 January 1991 and 28 December 2003.
In this context, 'independent' indicates freedom from the BBC, rather than the government, as the latter is taken as being read.
The ITC was formed by the 19900042_en_1.htm" target="_blank">Broadcasting Act 1990 to replace the television regulation functions of the _Independent Broadcasting Authority (formed by the Broadcasting Act 1954) and Cable Authority. From January 1, 1991 it regulated the existing ITV network.
The 1990 Act also established the Channel Four Television Corporation to run Channel 4, regulated by the ITC. There was no fan-fare, as control was passed from Channel Four Television Company Limited.
The establishing Act required the auction of Channel 3 licences for the ID&c=8" target="_blank">fifteen ITV regions and nationwide breakfast time. Most of the Channel 3 licences were awarded to the incumbent ITV companies; however there were some controversial decisions:
On January 1, 1993 these new arrangements came into force, and the ITC began its job of 'light touch regulation'. During this time, the ITC regulated the Channel 3 system as well as Channel 4. It issued licences to new satellite broadcasters and awarded the Channel 5 licence in the late 1990s. It also regulated cable TV.
In the early 2000s, the British government, in a White Paper, declared its intention to merge the ITC with the Radio Authority, Office of Telecommunications, and Radiocommunications Agency. This merger, under the Communications Act 2003, took effect on December 29, 2003. Most powers of the ITC are now exercised by the Office of Communications (Ofcom), making some powers – and the ITC itself – defunct.
