"Staff were told in a meeting first thing this morning that the Central News South service, presented from Abingdon, will close. In its place will be a new "Thames Valley" service, formed from the closure and/or extension of the Meridian West service. The new service would be presented from the present Meridian West studio at their base in Whiteley, Southampton."
A press release has apparently gone out outlining the plans.
If this is true it's very sad news. Considering its relatively small patch, Central News South has always been an excellent regional news programme which has come across as much more professional than a lot of its larger counterparts.
If a merger with Meridian West occurs, I would imagine the existing CNS region would have to be split, so that Ridge Hill is reassigned to Birmingham and the Oxford transmitter joins Meridian, effectively bringing it in line with the BBC regions.
What's the betting that Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards will be a guest on the final programme?
It's a more radical shakeup across the network in fact:
Quote:
In other changes, the ITV Yorkshire news programme Calendar will be split into separate editions for the east and west of the region, while the trial of running two editions of Tyne Tees' North West Tonight in the north and south of the area will become permanent.
ITV West's broadcasting footprint will also be expanded to take in the area around Gloucester and Cheltenham.
Altogether, the changes will see the number of separate regional 6pm news programmes rise from 16 to 17.
Well I think it's a great shame to see Central South go. Whilst the new configuration of regions may have some merit, I think the worst aspect is that the new service will be produced and presented from way outside the area.
Who'll present Thames Valley Tonight I wonder? Andy Craig must be coming up for retirement. Will they keep Wesley and Hannah?
The Yorkshire split is interesting. Wonder who'll present the new versions of Calendar - and who they'll put up against Peter Levy.
A hedghog in drag would probably provide a better service.
I hear Mrs Tiggywinkle has been approached.
It's interesting from the sounds of it that Ridge Hill will come under ITV West for the first time in many years - a decision that I'm sure will be welcomed by a lot of people in Gloucestershire who don't consider themselves to be part of the Midlands. I'm not sure it'll go down as well in places like Bromsgrove which has its fair share of Ridge Hill viewers.
I assume that with double the transmitter coveage, the station formally known as, will be expecting to get TWO viewers each night for their news programme.
Just been announced on Central News. Basically saying the same stuff except Herefordshire & presumably Ridge Hill will be going to Central West from Birmingham.
