ITV's obligations as a public sector broadcaster in the UK could be cut back under proposals outlined today by the British broadcasting watchdog.
Its regional news services may need to be overhauled to ease pressure on the broadcaster as it suffers amid an advertising slowdown, according to Ofcom.
Ofcom also said that between £145m sterling and £235m of additional public funding would be needed by 2012 to keep public service broadcasts at current levels on channels other than the BBC - ITV1, Channel 4 and five.
The proposals come under the second phase of Ofcom's review into public service broadcasting, launched as the industry faces huge changes including increased competition and the digital switchover.
In April, Ofcom suggested that the BBC could lose some of its licence fee to other broadcasters.
