The BBC's Nick Higham explains why ITV is making the changes

The flagship News at Ten and the 5.40pm early evening bulletin would be scrapped to make way for a new programme going out at 6.30 in the evening, ITN has announced.

The changes to the News at Ten format - which have to be approved by the Independent Television Commission - are designed to help ITV fight for viewers in the competitive news arena.

The programme's ratings have been falling. Figures have shown a 27% drop in audience at 10pm during the first five months of this year - nearly three times more than the drop in total television viewing.

But politicians, including Prime Minister Tony Blair, are openly opposed to the plans to scrap News at Ten, which has been on air for 31 years.

Mr Blair's official spokesman said the Prime Minister supported News at Ten staying where it is because of its "deserved reputation" for reporting issues in a "very digestible and even-handed way".

Tony Blair: Backs News at Ten

"He would also feel it was regrettable if this move led to any marginalisation of TV news or any further move down market in the media more generally."

'It's for money'

The Chairman of the Commons Select Committee on culture, media and sport, MP Gerald Kaufman, also warned ITV over its rescheduling plan.

On Channel 4 News he accused ITV of "pretending" it had a public service commitment to broadcasting.

"Now they are saying that because of ratings, not because of service, they want to get rid of a programme broadcast right in the middle of the peak hour.

"It's for money," he added.

Public interest

But Opposition Leader William Hague said the decision was not up to the politicians.

"Personally, I believe there is a public interest in high quality TV news and that News At Ten is one of the most popular and informative news programmes on TV.

"But it is not the interests of politicians that are most important in this debate. It is those of the public."

Others thought to oppose the changes include senior reporters at ITN, among them Political Editor Michael Brunson, the bulletin's founder Sir Alastair Burnet and veteran reporter Sandy Gall.

ITV said its new schedule would include a new 6.30pm main news flagship, a half-hour late news at 11.00pm and a 60-second live headline bulletin to accommodate major breaking news items later in the evening.

The proposals also include a plan to develop a 'News at Ten' for ITV2, ITV's new digital channel.

Trevor to stay on

One element of the old format that will not go in the shake-up is newscaster Trevor McDonald.

If the proposals go ahead he will present the peak-time news, having signed a long-term contract for the programme.

Sandy Gall is also thought to oppose plans

ITV's chief executive Richard Eyre said ITV's main evening news was being taken to "the real battleground for viewers".

Mr Eyre said ITV was having to breathe new life into the schedule, with new programmes and greater spending, in the face of growing competition.

But he added: "There is a clear appetite for news that we intend to satisfy."

The proposals will be examined by the ITC in a procedure involving public consultation and audience research that usually takes six to eight weeks.