Countdown to the end of ITV regional news as we know it

"Get Ready for ITV" - where have we heard that before? A year from now (give a month or two) ITV regional news will undergo dramatic changes. 17 to 9 overnight. How will it affect us as viewers? Well, if we live in Wales or London, for example, it won't. But what if we don't? How long until itv1 shifts all of its news onto ITV LOCAL? It's going to happen...but when?

Don't ITV have to continue with ITV1 regional news in some form until analogue switch off at the earliest, which is 2012 for completion?

I don't think there is much doubt that regional news will stay on itv1 until post-analogue switch-off. There is SOME doubt within the industry - but I think it's unfounded. Michael Grade told itv News staff that he was committed to regional news - but he did not elaborate on which platform it would be broadcast in four years time.

ITV is pushing ITV Local. Mark my words....ITV Local will become the sole home for itv regional news.

Once ITV have local news on t'internet, and it's making absolutely no money whatsoever, then they'll have the opportunity to kill it off altogether.

They really need to lose the right to their multiplex when this happens -- they have it on the basis that they are a PSB.

Can't wait. Perhaps then they can spend the money on making proper national & international news!

By law and its Promise of Performance - ITV have to continue supplying a regional service 'of sorts' until the analogue switch-off - now that doesn't matter if the service has been cut from 17 to 9 - in Ofcom's eye that is STILL a regional service. And yes, I agree, it'll all going to be on ITV Local (think of the money ITV can give back to its shareholders - you know, the ones that never watch ITV anyway!) To show the commitment to ITV Local, they are going to start 'streaming' the weekday morning news bulletins within the next week or so. So switch off that TV and turn on the PC where the quality will be so much better (NOT) - better still - if you want regional news done properly - just switch to the BBC.

Where does the idea that punters won't want regional news after DSO come from ?



Well, done slightly better generally, although I don't think punters in some areas would agree ?

I don't see how placing the regional news on ITV Local will save them an enormous amount of money. They'll still be making the programmes (even if a reduced number of versions). Surely that's where the cost lies, not in actually transmitting them.

If they've made them they may as well transmit them in the normal way via DTT, DSat or Cable (post DSO).

I'd argue STV does a better job than BBC Scotland, so I'd be disappointed if (when) regional news is a BBC only effort.

So far SMG appear to be going the other way and introducing new regional programmes. But I suspect STV will make an effort to try and have a nationwide (well, Scottish and Grampian-wide) news bulletin instead of two separate areas. Which defeats the bulletin's USP.

but that is still a few year off, IF it does come to light, which I don;t think it will

Presumably it can't be only on ITV Local until after analogue switch-off though - as the regulation is related to their broadcasts not webcasts?
(Ofcom can't assume that all ITV1 viewers have broadband network connectivity and PCs. My Mum and Gran don't...)

Exactly. The internet model simply doesn't work for something as expensive as a news operation. Tagged onto the back of an existing system, yes, but there's no money to be made otherwise.

At least if it's broadcast, some money is made back.

If ITV are serious about this ITV local stuff (which seems to me to be little more than the regional websites of a few years ago, plus putting a poor quality cap of the news onto the site), then it is the road to the discontinuation of local news altogether. ITV Local cannot exist as a separate entity without the regional broadcasts.

Local news always has been, and always will be, a public service commitment (as is the news generally it must be said). There isn't any real money to be made out of it, and ITV should stop being so damned dishonest about their intentions.

The subject is at the heart of what ITV should be. Is it just another channel, or is it granted a privileged status? It cannot be allowed to be both.