**ITV Ramps Up Cost-Cutting Measures Following Profit Decline**
ITV, one of the UK’s foremost broadcasters, has unveiled a new wave of budget reductions as it navigates falling profits and a challenging advertising environment. The company announced an additional £15 million in planned savings this year, escalating an earlier £30 million target, as it seeks to adapt to evolving market conditions and maintain its competitiveness within the rapidly changing media industry.
The fresh round of financial tightening comes in the wake of a sharp decline in ITV’s half-year results. The network, renowned for flagship series such as *Britain’s Got Talent* and *Love Island*, reported underlying pre-tax profits of £99 million for the six months leading up to 30 June 2025. This figure marks a significant decrease of 44% from the £178 million achieved during the same period last year. Operating profits mirrored this downturn, also falling by 44% to reach £76 million.
This isn’t the first time ITV has initiated cost-saving strategies recently. Earlier this year, the broadcaster made noticeable reductions to its content output, including scaling back the broadcast slots for popular daytime shows *Lorraine* and *Loose Women*. Despite these changes, which were met with mixed responses from viewers, ITV asserts that such measures are vital in ensuring the firm’s long-term sustainability amidst advertising volatility.
ITV’s shares experienced an immediate positive reaction in the market, climbing by 9% in Thursday morning trading. This uptick comes despite total advertising revenue for the first half of 2025 falling by 7%. The network experienced a particularly steep 12% drop in advertising income between April and June. However, executives noted that these figures, while concerning, were less severe than originally forecast.
Looking to the near future, ITV anticipates advertising performance to remain under pressure, expecting only a marginal decrease in revenues for the third quarter. The company attributes some of the anticipated softness to strong comparisons against last year’s high-profile men’s Euros football matches, which had bolstered previous advertising returns.
Chief Executive Carolyn McCall addressed the challenges, stating, “ITV is now a leaner, more digital business in a strong position to compete and succeed in a changing market.” She emphasised that the company remains on course to meet its key financial goals set for 2026, highlighting the importance of growth driven by ITV Studios and their streaming platform ITVX, underpinned by continuous, strategic cost controls.
A notable aspect of ITV’s current strategy revolves around technological advancements. The broadcaster aims to leverage new technologies to streamline operations and reduce overheads further. During the March full-year results, ITV revealed success in cutting £60 million in costs for 2024—a figure that surpassed previous expectations by £10 million.
Though concerns about workforce reductions often accompany large-scale efficiency drives, ITV has clarified that the current round of savings will not result in further job losses for 2025. This follows the company’s significant restructuring earlier in the year, which saw more than 220 positions—particularly within its media and entertainment division—eliminated to bring the business in line with digital transformation objectives.
The broadcaster’s proactive stance underscores the broader challenges faced by traditional media companies amid shifting viewing habits and mounting pressures in advertising. As audiences increasingly migrate to digital platforms, ITV’s management appears committed to reshaping both its cost structure and content strategy to remain relevant and prosperous in the coming years.
While the reductions may prompt concerns among programme viewers and staff alike, ITV maintains that these difficult decisions are essential for navigating ongoing market headwinds. Industry analysts will be closely watching to see whether these actions ultimately enable the historic broadcaster to achieve renewed growth and stability.