Commercial broadcasters are beginning to return to normality following the schedule changes and advertising blackouts that have followed the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
ITV and Channel 4 have both announced that ad breaks will begin to return to their main linear channels from this evening following a suspension to mark The Queen’s passing.
ITV is also beginning to return to its regular programming, although the broadcaster adds that “ITV’s main channel will continue to make changes to its schedule to broadcast the important state events of the coming days culminating in the historic state funeral with extensive and dedicated news coverage from our news teams. ITV will also be showing a number of documentaries about the Queen and the new King over the coming days. No advertising will run during any of the Royal coverage or commentary.”
ITV partially returns to scheduled programming from early evening Monday with Tipping Point: Best Ever Finals at 4.30pm, The Chase at 5, Regional News at 6, and then an extended ITV Evening News at 6:30, which will run until 8pm.
Coronation Street’s episode that was originally scheduled for Friday 9 September will follow the news, with The Suspect at 9pm. These shows will be followed by an extended ITV News At Ten, and at 11pm another chance to see the documentary Queen Elizabeth II, narrated by Mary Nightingale.
Channel 4 has largely been sticking to regular programming, alongside extended news coverage, in keeping with its mission to provide an alternative to the main TV channels. It too has been observing an ad blackout, however, which is now set to draw to a close.
Both broadcasters have said they will remain ad-free during news and royal coverage in the run up to The Queen’s state funeral next Monday.
