One would have thought that the "DUTY OFFICER - PR" would know how to construct a sentence. It's "increase the number of" not "increase our news bulletins". Makes me believe you're talking out of your botty. Sorry.
Some bloke in the duty office wouldn't know about high level strategic plans like that anyway, and wouldn't tell you if they did. They are there for basic comments about Coronation Street
It's like e-mailing Tescos 'I heard you were doing some price offers on Chart CDs next month, can you tell me what they are. Yours K. Morrison'
I thought that when the ITV News Channel closed that there would be extra bulletins on ITV2/3/4, i emailed ITV and this was the reply,
Dear Shaun
Thank you for your recent email.
Unfortunately the information you have received is incorrect, there have
never been any plans to increase our news bulletins.
Regards
DUTY OFFICER - PR
ITN and ITV are notorious for this sort of thing - announcements and promises of things that never occur - usually timed to sweeten the pill when they're cutting back on news coverage.
When ITV renewed the ITN contract (scandalously lopping 10 million quid off the budget at the time) they said they were going to open an LA bureau and have an LA Correspondent. Presumably trying to prove they are committed to news after all. Of course it never happened. And surprise surprise these extra bulletins aren't happening either.
ITV announces £2m investment in news
ITV News Channel to close
14/12/2005
ITV has today announced it is to invest £2m in its news programming. The decision comes after a strategic review of the network’s news services to evaluate the future requirements for ITV news up to 2010 and beyond.
A further consequence of the review is the decision to discontinue the 24 hour rolling ITV News Channel as the network increases its focus on developing new media solutions and strengthening ITV1’s news offering.
As a result of this review ITV will make significant additional investment to enable ITV to expand its national and international newsgathering operations including:
Introducing news bulletins on ITV2 and ITV3
The creation of a news bureau in Beijing
...
Ends
Press Contacts:
Ruth Settle, Controller of Communications 020 7843 8225
Kate Smith, PR Manager, 020 7843 8216
