MA
When Meridian first came along in 1993, I never understood the need for a third news sub-region. TVS's two seemed quite sufficent. Especially considering that the Newbury region's patch is about 7 square meters!
Doesn't "west" cover pretty much just one county - Berkshire - and precious little else? I wonder if it's the case that there are a lot of northern Hampshire stories shared between the "south" and "west" editions? Certainly there's a huge amount of overlap on the weather map.
Well you obviously don't live in the region. Hannington (which is Meridian West's transmitter) covers a large area. Most of Berkshire, South Oxon, parts of Surrey, N Wilts, and N Hants. These areas feel no affinity to the south coast, and places such as Reading and Bracknell are London commuter towns. I live in North Hampshire, only 30 miles from the coast, but again we 'look towards' London and the Thames Valley socially and financially.
The problem is that Hannington is used by viewers deep into the 'South' region. Take a look at the map I posted elsewhere.
This is why Meridian commissioned single channel Rowridge relays near Southampton and Winchester, there was outrage in these areas when Meridian West was launched.
Personally the new move will dilute my local ITV News, and skew it northwards, but I can see the overall logic. However rather than presenting the programme from Whiteley, why not keep Abingdon ?
The BBC should follow, and detach Hannington from Rowridge, moving it to join Oxford too IMHO.
EXCLUSIVE: Central News South to Close
Work of Artifice posted:
When Meridian first came along in 1993, I never understood the need for a third news sub-region. TVS's two seemed quite sufficent. Especially considering that the Newbury region's patch is about 7 square meters!
Doesn't "west" cover pretty much just one county - Berkshire - and precious little else? I wonder if it's the case that there are a lot of northern Hampshire stories shared between the "south" and "west" editions? Certainly there's a huge amount of overlap on the weather map.
Well you obviously don't live in the region. Hannington (which is Meridian West's transmitter) covers a large area. Most of Berkshire, South Oxon, parts of Surrey, N Wilts, and N Hants. These areas feel no affinity to the south coast, and places such as Reading and Bracknell are London commuter towns. I live in North Hampshire, only 30 miles from the coast, but again we 'look towards' London and the Thames Valley socially and financially.
The problem is that Hannington is used by viewers deep into the 'South' region. Take a look at the map I posted elsewhere.
This is why Meridian commissioned single channel Rowridge relays near Southampton and Winchester, there was outrage in these areas when Meridian West was launched.
Personally the new move will dilute my local ITV News, and skew it northwards, but I can see the overall logic. However rather than presenting the programme from Whiteley, why not keep Abingdon ?
The BBC should follow, and detach Hannington from Rowridge, moving it to join Oxford too IMHO.
