In an interview with The Independent today, Allen says ITV is more interested in competing with commercial rivals than with the BBC.
"My vision would also see us collaborating more with the BBC rather than head-to-head competition," he said.
The comments are a volte face from Allen, who was reported in February last year as calling for 10% of the BBC's licence fee to be siphoned off to commercial broadcasters. At the same time, he had accused the corporation of ripping off ITV's 'Pop Idol' format for 'Fame Academy'.
However, since taking over as chief executive of ITV, following the merger of Granada and Carlton Communications, he is now sounding far more conciliatory.
"We will be very supportive of the BBC continuing to have its licence fee as the basis of funding," he told The Independent.
In the same interview, Allen dismisses reports that former BBC director-general Greg Dyke, who met with ITV chairman Sir Peter Burt last month, might one day take over from him as chief executive of ITV.
"There is no substance to any of that," Allen says in the interview.
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