Channel Ten will become the first television network to remove on-screen credits at the end of its programs as it tries to lure more viewers and not make them switching channels - but the industry guilds are not happy.

It is unknown if this will affect its imported programming, but its commissioned programming will now exclude the credits and will show them on the network’s website - according to new end-credit policy.

The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, which represents a number of industry sectors in TV, has said that the on-screen credits would be a convention that it would fight to retain.

At present, TV networks are not obliged to screen crew credits; however, many dramas have agreements with producers that the networks are obliged to show the cast in a visual, legible fashion - but the networks have been squashing it and overlaying promotions over the theme.

In translation: We don’t have to do it - so why bother.

This can be compared to the BBC’s credit guidelines, which saw producers could not place programming or other visuals within their credits since it didn’t want to distract their own cross-promotion during the credits.

Source: The Australian