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The Voice will switch to ITV after its next series
By Chris Cooke | Published on Monday 9 November 2015
‘The Voice’ will switch from BBC One to ITV after its next series, it has been confirmed, making the upcoming fifth outing for the talent show something of an end-of-an-era season.
So let’s take a few moments to remember all those stars that came through the show during its BBC tenure. Like Benji. There was one called Benji, right? From Burnley? He played the banjo? Or did I dream that? I probably dreamt it. Though fictional musicians in my dreams have generally enjoyed the same level of commercial success as finalists on ‘The Voice’, so it’s easy to get confused.
There has been speculation that the UK version of the ‘Voice’ franchise would move from the BBC to ITV for 2017 ever since the production company behind the talent show brand, Talpa Media, was acquired by ITV Studios back in March.
We knew that the Beeb’s contract with Talpa was up for renewal in 2016, and with the Corporation currently the subject of a government review – and with its critics particularly critical of its decision to take on ITV’s ‘X-Factor’ by buying-in a ready-made rival show at much expense – it seemed unlikely BBC bosses would bid high to keep ‘The Voice’ on its networks.
According to sources, ITV did indeed bid higher to secure the show, and also agreed to partner with Talpa on a kids version, something the BBC hasn’t been so keen to do.
The BBC’s acting TV chief Mark Linsey confirmed: “We always said we wouldn’t get into a bidding war or pay inflated prices to keep the show, and it’s testament to how the BBC has built the programme up – and established it into a mainstay of the Saturday night schedule – that another broadcaster has poached it”.
ITV taking over ‘The Voice’ has, of course, led to speculation that ‘The X-Factor’ – which is still flagging in the ratings, despite various revamps – could be axed. Though word has it that Sky might be interested in the Syco show if ITV was to drop it.
