Competitions on Regional News - Good or Bad?

Competitions on ITV Regional News are hardly a new fad, they've been around for years, it's just that there are now appearing on a regular basis in most regions, and ITV makes money from them thanks to premium rate phone lines and text numbers.

Scotland Today used to do a lot when the 2pm show was on. They've been doing it for years.

We're not talking mega bucks here. Raising cash isn't the intention - it's all about interactivity and connecting with the viewers!

I say there should be a magazine show and a news show for each region, and make sure the competitions and special features remain out of the news programme...

If that was so they'd put it on an 0800 number, not an 090** number...

John

Well that becomes a cost if ITV ends up paying for the call, and you also have to pay the telephone firm which provides the voting service. It really doesn't make ITV rich, just recoups the costs. If you're talking about programmes like WWTBAM, well - that IS different!

What tosh!

There is very little money to be made in regional news, but costs a shed load to produce. The newsrooms are finally waking up to an easy way to grab some cash, and if that increases interactivity, then all the better!

What I'd like to know is, how much of the money raised goes back into producing the programmes?

Of course the fact that it is lazy content that more than pays for itself is not part of the calculations.

Interactivity is of course time wasted if the responses are as banal as they usually are, rather like vox-pops, especially when those comments that do not fit editorially are discarded.

Tip for those wishing to have their interview or comment broadcast - make sure you say what the reporter/editor's wants to hear.

Rob (been there).