The absence of any comedy or light entertainment shows led by, or significantly involving, ethnic minority personalities is glaring across all three networks.

The ITC

But the watchdog was positive about other aspects of commercial TV and praised Channel 5 for producing better quality factual programmes, having accused it last year of concentrating on "human interest, disasters and dysfunctional behaviour".

The commission also praised the reporting of the 11 September attacks on the US, singling out Sky News for its comprehensive coverage.

The representation of the UK's multi-ethnic communities was particularly poor in ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5's entertainment programming, said the report.

"The absence of any comedy or light entertainment shows led by, or significantly involving, ethnic minority personalities is glaring across all three networks," it said.

Sky News's 11 September coverage is praised

The report noted that, though Channel 4's "excellent" multicultural programming exceeded the channel's three hours a week requirement, they were rarely shown at peak time.

The other aspect of television that came in for particular criticism from the commission was daytime viewing.

"This part of the schedule has been perceived as low priority," the report said.

"More imagination is needed to re-invigorate the programming."

Richard and Judy: A decline in audiences

The move of the husband-and-wife presenting duo Richard and Judy from ITV1's This Morning to a late-afternoon slot on Channel 4 had, the ITC said, "failed to live up to expectations".

Instead of commissioning original daytime programmes, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 had filled the schedules with cheap US imports, it added.

"Overall audiences for daytime television are in decline. This part of the schedule has been perceived as low priority."

Audiences were increasingly giving up watching daytime TV or were turning to cable and satellite channels, the commission warned.

The report also concluded: