ITV warns on shortfall in productions as Covid 19 hit studios but advertising improves and Prince William show boosts viewing

ITV today warned the reduction in the number of shows it had been able to produce under Covid-19 restrictions was still hitting its profits but signalled an improvement in advertising markets, hailing its shows including Prince William’s A Planet for us All.

ITV Studios had to shut during the various lockdowns over the past eight months although it has now resumed filming the majority of it shows.

However, it warned that the current run of new measures would continue hampering the current quarter and profits going into next year.

The studios business will be particularly badly affected when compared year-on-year because 2019 had a strong delivery schedule of new programmes.

Even after lockdowns ended, social distancing rules made filming difficult for actors and film crew.

Advertising had picked up in recent months though, with the current quarter likely to be slightly up on last year. November ad revenues are up about 6%, ITV said.