ITV has pledged £9million to regional producers.

Confirming news that was revealed exclusively in Recruitment & Business a few months ago, the broadcaster is making the money available over three years.

The pledge aims to underline ITV’s commitment to regional production at a time when hours of local broadcasting, excluding news, are being reduced.

The cash will go to independent television programme-makers based outside London who have not made programmes for the ITV network before.

Established independents will qualify for access to this money, provided that new talent is encouraged within their teams.

South East producers will have a chance to learn more about ITV’s regional production fund at a roadshow being held at The Maidstone Studios on July 13.

It will be hosted by ITV Meridian and the South East Producers Network and attended by senior ITV commissioners.

Kent-based Indie Peter Williams, chairman of the South East Producers Network, which had lobbied for the Roadshow to visit the South East, welcomed the initiative.

He said: "This will help the South East establish itself as a region in its own right, distinct from the dominance of London."

Lindsay Charlton, managing director of ITV Meridian said: "ITV’s Regional Production Fund is a fantastic chance for independent television producers to break into the ITV network.

"We plan to disperse commissioning more widely across the country. The South East has some very creative and enterprising production talent and I am sure that a proportion of the fund will come in this direction."

The fund is designed to encourage and develop new talent from around the regions.

It will be dedicated to programme commissions from "new to network" individual producers or production companies, producers who have made network programmes for channels other than ITV1, as well as those already working in ITV who have not previously produced a programme for national broadcast.