On the upside for ITV, the commercial network has secured the exclusive first screening rights to Robbie Williams' new video, for single 'Lovelight'. The video will be aired for the very first time at 11pm on 6 Oct on ITV1, with a repeat play on ITV2 later that night. And the great news for late night ITV viewers is that the screening of the video doesn't involve phoning a premium rate phone line or watching the family members of minor celebrities trying to get off with each other. I might just tune in.
Here's what ITV's Controller of Music and Events, Guy Freeman, told CMU: "Robbie was a big hit with our viewers earlier in the year as he's one of those rare performers who connects with an incredibly broad range of fans. As the new video has extremely high production values and is a great track, it only seems appropriate to offer viewers the chance to see it first on ITV."
Here's what EMI Records Director Of Media Rebecca Coates told CMU: "This is the first time that EMI Records/IE Management have had the chance to work with ITV on the exclusive broadcast of a stand alone video programme of any kind. The incredible new video for ' Lovelight ' by one of the UK's most popular artists, Robbie Williams is the perfect way to start things. ITV have given us a fantastic cross platform opportunity to deliver one of our key artists direct to his core audience and I hope that this is a programme strand that they can build on in the future."
The single, by the way, is out on 13 Nov.