BO
It was intersting to see Ian Squires saying (on last night's Central News South) that Abingdon will stay open. He of course said nothing about production staff, which suggests that the Thames-Valley programme will be based in Abingdon but be presented and have its gallery/technical operations in Southampton. I wonder though whether Wes and Hannah could present the programme from Abingdon. The studio there will certainly be up to the task for years to come. It would definitely be a mistake to seperate the new programme's journalists from its presenters, as has been demonstrated by Central News East and Meridian West. It would also be terrible to see Wesley and Hannah replaced by some idiotic media studies graduates!
From my perspective (as a former employee of central news south), I must say that this is very sad but inevitable news. From an economic perspective, abingdon is certainly not inefficient. Unfortunately though Whiteley is more cost effective still. Perhaps they can pull it off without destroying the programme, but this won't be possible if the presenters are seperated from the journalists.
From my perspective (as a former employee of central news south), I must say that this is very sad but inevitable news. From an economic perspective, abingdon is certainly not inefficient. Unfortunately though Whiteley is more cost effective still. Perhaps they can pull it off without destroying the programme, but this won't be possible if the presenters are seperated from the journalists.
LO
yes - this is confirmed here:
www.savecentralnews.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10
It also seems that there will be changes at Ridge Hill with a new "analogue antenna" to spit the area served by that mast between ITV West and Central West.
The staff document confirms that Thames Valley will take Meridian non-news regional programmes.
boring_user_name posted:
He of course said nothing about production staff, which suggests that the Thames-Valley programme will be based in Abingdon but be presented and have its gallery/technical operations in Southampton.
yes - this is confirmed here:
www.savecentralnews.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10
It also seems that there will be changes at Ridge Hill with a new "analogue antenna" to spit the area served by that mast between ITV West and Central West.
The staff document confirms that Thames Valley will take Meridian non-news regional programmes.
BO
The Ridge Hill plan is strange. If the intention is to broadcast two analogue services from the transmitter, a new frequency will be required. This will also mean a retuning for analogue viewers, and of course an information campaign to get viewers to retune - very strange considering that analogue will be switched off in about 5 years. Perhaps they are just going to reassign the northern relays of Ridge Hill to The Wrekin?
And what about digital? Where is the spare frequency going to come from to broadcast two ITV multiplexes? Or perhaps they will just not broadcast a channel such as ITV play from Ridge Hill, replacing it with the alternate ITV 1? But then how will a box in hereford be able to assign central west to position 3 on the epg, when ITV west will also be broadcast?
And what about digital? Where is the spare frequency going to come from to broadcast two ITV multiplexes? Or perhaps they will just not broadcast a channel such as ITV play from Ridge Hill, replacing it with the alternate ITV 1? But then how will a box in hereford be able to assign central west to position 3 on the epg, when ITV west will also be broadcast?
ST
If you want to show your support and save Central South can you register and add any comments you like. Thank you for any support you wish to offer.
Londoner posted:
www.savecentralnews.com
If you want to show your support and save Central South can you register and add any comments you like. Thank you for any support you wish to offer.
RM
Meridian have been showing pan-regional bulletins during GMTV for sometime now, apparently because 'GMTV didn't want to pay for seperate bulletins from the sub-regions'. As a Maidstone viewer I am really not interested in the ROMANSE traffic cameras around Southampton, and there's one story from Kent during the bulletin 'if you're lucky', otherwise it's the token Brighton story for the South East
Same with Central's GMTV bulletins. During the footy season, the sports round-up forSunday's bulletins has been pan-regional-- perhaps a pre-cursor for the whole Sunday bulletin going the same way!
GreenMini posted:
Meridian have been showing pan-regional bulletins during GMTV for sometime now, apparently because 'GMTV didn't want to pay for seperate bulletins from the sub-regions'. As a Maidstone viewer I am really not interested in the ROMANSE traffic cameras around Southampton, and there's one story from Kent during the bulletin 'if you're lucky', otherwise it's the token Brighton story for the South East
Same with Central's GMTV bulletins. During the footy season, the sports round-up forSunday's bulletins has been pan-regional-- perhaps a pre-cursor for the whole Sunday bulletin going the same way!
NG
One of the major cost reduction motives for this is reducing 4 separate studio operations to 3, and still retaining the major cost benefits of co-siting studios at Whiteley.
It is much cheaper to support 3 studios on the same site than a split site operation - as you need fewer engineers, you can rota staff more flexibly across the range of output and have a smaller pool of people than you'd need with two separate locations.
I don't think you'll see the Abingdon studio facilities used at all.
Another cost saving is that Abingdon was one of the first areas to use Quantel's Editbox and Clipbox server technology in the 90s - ITN, GMTV and WestCountry also use it, or a close relative (ITN have a more advanced version) This is now approaching obsolescence, and ITV Regional News is adopting a new platform - as many regions have been tape-based (Meridian are already on the new system). It will be much cheaper not to have to re-equip Abingdon and to just use the existing facilities at Whitely, with just a couple of desktop Avids in the Abingdon newsroom. Much cheaper than replacing an entire 1800 programme infrastructure...
noggin
Founding member
boring_user_name posted:
It was intersting to see Ian Squires saying (on last night's Central News South) that Abingdon will stay open. He of course said nothing about production staff, which suggests that the Thames-Valley programme will be based in Abingdon but be presented and have its gallery/technical operations in Southampton. I wonder though whether Wes and Hannah could present the programme from Abingdon. The studio there will certainly be up to the task for years to come. It would definitely be a mistake to seperate the new programme's journalists from its presenters, as has been demonstrated by Central News East and Meridian West. It would also be terrible to see Wesley and Hannah replaced by some idiotic media studies graduates!
From my perspective (as a former employee of central news south), I must say that this is very sad but inevitable news. From an economic perspective, abingdon is certainly not inefficient. Unfortunately though Whiteley is more cost effective still. Perhaps they can pull it off without destroying the programme, but this won't be possible if the presenters are seperated from the journalists.
From my perspective (as a former employee of central news south), I must say that this is very sad but inevitable news. From an economic perspective, abingdon is certainly not inefficient. Unfortunately though Whiteley is more cost effective still. Perhaps they can pull it off without destroying the programme, but this won't be possible if the presenters are seperated from the journalists.
One of the major cost reduction motives for this is reducing 4 separate studio operations to 3, and still retaining the major cost benefits of co-siting studios at Whiteley.
It is much cheaper to support 3 studios on the same site than a split site operation - as you need fewer engineers, you can rota staff more flexibly across the range of output and have a smaller pool of people than you'd need with two separate locations.
I don't think you'll see the Abingdon studio facilities used at all.
Another cost saving is that Abingdon was one of the first areas to use Quantel's Editbox and Clipbox server technology in the 90s - ITN, GMTV and WestCountry also use it, or a close relative (ITN have a more advanced version) This is now approaching obsolescence, and ITV Regional News is adopting a new platform - as many regions have been tape-based (Meridian are already on the new system). It will be much cheaper not to have to re-equip Abingdon and to just use the existing facilities at Whitely, with just a couple of desktop Avids in the Abingdon newsroom. Much cheaper than replacing an entire 1800 programme infrastructure...
MA
The new frequency for analogue ITV West, could perhaps be used for an extra Mux 2 (will be PSB 2) from RH after DSO
Or, they simply won't bother with the west version on DTT, but it's easy to provide without any viewer intervention on Sky.
Or, by DSO ITV will have pursuaded Ofcom that they can do away with all regional programming on ITV 1, so problem solved.
boring_user_name posted:
The Ridge Hill plan is strange. If the intention is to broadcast two analogue services from the transmitter, a new frequency will be required. This will also mean a retuning for analogue viewers, and of course an information campaign to get viewers to retune - very strange considering that analogue will be switched off in about 5 years. Perhaps they are just going to reassign the northern relays of Ridge Hill to The Wrekin?
And what about digital? Where is the spare frequency going to come from to broadcast two ITV multiplexes? Or perhaps they will just not broadcast a channel such as ITV play from Ridge Hill, replacing it with the alternate ITV 1? But then how will a box in hereford be able to assign central west to position 3 on the epg, when ITV west will also be broadcast?
And what about digital? Where is the spare frequency going to come from to broadcast two ITV multiplexes? Or perhaps they will just not broadcast a channel such as ITV play from Ridge Hill, replacing it with the alternate ITV 1? But then how will a box in hereford be able to assign central west to position 3 on the epg, when ITV west will also be broadcast?
The new frequency for analogue ITV West, could perhaps be used for an extra Mux 2 (will be PSB 2) from RH after DSO
Or, they simply won't bother with the west version on DTT, but it's easy to provide without any viewer intervention on Sky.
Or, by DSO ITV will have pursuaded Ofcom that they can do away with all regional programming on ITV 1, so problem solved.
BS
Indeed. The clue being that my stats at the side of all my posts tell you which region I live in.
Also, I'm careful to say things like "Is it the case that...?" etc. So please don't treat me accusitively, as if I'm acting like a know-it-all, when I am in fact clearly making an effort NOT to present personal speculation as if it were fact.
I certainly agree with that sentiment.
If the existing Meridian West region doesn't feel much of an affinity with the south coast, then a more northward-stretching region REALLY won't feel one. If ITVplc must insist that the studio/production is outside of the Thames Valley region, wouldn't London would feel like a slightly more apt studio location than Southampton????????
I assume that either Oxford (Abingdon) or Newbury will be retained as a "newsgathering centre only"???? I wonder which? I can't imagine that they'd retain both.
EDIT: Only just noticed boring_user_name's post.
Looks like Abingdon's staying. Bye-bye Newbury???
Markymark posted:
Well you obviously don't live in the region.
Indeed. The clue being that my stats at the side of all my posts tell you which region I live in.
Also, I'm careful to say things like "Is it the case that...?" etc. So please don't treat me accusitively, as if I'm acting like a know-it-all, when I am in fact clearly making an effort NOT to present personal speculation as if it were fact.
Markymark posted:
rather than presenting the programme from Whiteley, why not keep Abingdon ?
I certainly agree with that sentiment.
If the existing Meridian West region doesn't feel much of an affinity with the south coast, then a more northward-stretching region REALLY won't feel one. If ITVplc must insist that the studio/production is outside of the Thames Valley region, wouldn't London would feel like a slightly more apt studio location than Southampton????????
I assume that either Oxford (Abingdon) or Newbury will be retained as a "newsgathering centre only"???? I wonder which? I can't imagine that they'd retain both.
EDIT: Only just noticed boring_user_name's post.
Looks like Abingdon's staying. Bye-bye Newbury???
BS
When something like, say, moving CNeast production to Brum happens, I would imagine that existing presenters and production staff would have one or both of the following reasons to want to quit:
A: Not willing to move house for the sake of a job - especially if really well settled with a family etc, or "have lived here all my life" etc. (Or, alternatively, not willing to commute from, say, Notts to Brum, for the sake of a job)
B: "In-principal" disgust at the very notion of moving a regional news service's production outside of its own region.
I'm willing to bet that if you asked, say, Marie Ashby about her defection to BBC East Midlands, that something similar to the above would be true.
So, don't hold your breath re: Wesly Smith etc being prepared to present the Thames Valley news from Southampton.
EDIT: Actually, I've noticed an increasing use of Wesley in recent months as a bit of an "emergency relief" at CNwest. Possibly being groomed as Bob Warman replacement???? (Bob must be not many years/months from retirement by now?)
One way or another, I fear that poor Oxfordshire viewers may lose their beloved Wesley in the not-too-distant future...
boring_user_name posted:
It would also be terrible to see Wesley and Hannah replaced by some idiotic media studies graduates!
When something like, say, moving CNeast production to Brum happens, I would imagine that existing presenters and production staff would have one or both of the following reasons to want to quit:
A: Not willing to move house for the sake of a job - especially if really well settled with a family etc, or "have lived here all my life" etc. (Or, alternatively, not willing to commute from, say, Notts to Brum, for the sake of a job)
B: "In-principal" disgust at the very notion of moving a regional news service's production outside of its own region.
I'm willing to bet that if you asked, say, Marie Ashby about her defection to BBC East Midlands, that something similar to the above would be true.
So, don't hold your breath re: Wesly Smith etc being prepared to present the Thames Valley news from Southampton.
EDIT: Actually, I've noticed an increasing use of Wesley in recent months as a bit of an "emergency relief" at CNwest. Possibly being groomed as Bob Warman replacement???? (Bob must be not many years/months from retirement by now?)
One way or another, I fear that poor Oxfordshire viewers may lose their beloved Wesley in the not-too-distant future...
NH
Nick Harvey
Founding member
There are a couple of interesting engineering issues coming to light today.
As the situation of the southern and northern transmission centres bedded down, many of us were a little surprised that the old Central region got allocated to Leeds for playout.
Oxford's playout will have to be re-allocated to the South Bank in order that the incoming feed from Whitely can be sent to it.
The Ridge Hill situation will be even more odd, with the north facing transmitter being fed from Leeds, but the south facing one, on the same tower, being fed from the South Bank.
As the situation of the southern and northern transmission centres bedded down, many of us were a little surprised that the old Central region got allocated to Leeds for playout.
Oxford's playout will have to be re-allocated to the South Bank in order that the incoming feed from Whitely can be sent to it.
The Ridge Hill situation will be even more odd, with the north facing transmitter being fed from Leeds, but the south facing one, on the same tower, being fed from the South Bank.
PE
why are there seperate playout centres? do these provide the network feed?
Pete
Founding member
Nick Harvey posted:
There are a couple of interesting engineering issues coming to light today.
As the situation of the southern and northern transmission centres bedded down, many of us were a little surprised that the old Central region got allocated to Leeds for playout.
Oxford's playout will have to be re-allocated to the South Bank in order that the incoming feed from Whitely can be sent to it.
The Ridge Hill situation will be even more odd, with the north facing transmitter being fed from Leeds, but the south facing one, on the same tower, being fed from the South Bank.
As the situation of the southern and northern transmission centres bedded down, many of us were a little surprised that the old Central region got allocated to Leeds for playout.
Oxford's playout will have to be re-allocated to the South Bank in order that the incoming feed from Whitely can be sent to it.
The Ridge Hill situation will be even more odd, with the north facing transmitter being fed from Leeds, but the south facing one, on the same tower, being fed from the South Bank.
why are there seperate playout centres? do these provide the network feed?