:-(
A former member
Well, how will he get back all the service he gotten rid of?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/mar/16/itv-archie-norman-regional-news
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/mar/16/itv-archie-norman-regional-news
Quote:
ITV's Archie Norman considers U-turn on dumping regional news
ITV's new chairman, Archie Norman, is understood to be rethinking the broadcaster's decision to dump regional news, potentially throwing a further obstacle into the path of the government's plan to contract this programming out to independent suppliers.
Norman has been conducting a strategic review of all ITV's activities since taking over from Michael Grade in January and is said to be considering reversing his predecessor's decision to withdraw from local news provision for the English regions and Wales.
"Archie thinks ITV should continue to do regional news," a source close to the ITV chairman said. "His sentiment is that it is important, not something to walk away from."
ITV's attitude is understood to be hardening against the plan to test independently financed news consortiums (IFNCs) in Wales, Scotland and the North East and Borders region, which would produce regional bulletins for ITV1. The scheme is being rushed through parliament ahead of a likely May general election.
ITV currently provides regional news programming for two of the three pilots, in Wales and the North-East and Border region, and staff in these areas will transfer to the consortiums. STV supplies news for Scotland.
Should ITV wish to make a U-turn on dumping regional news production, the decision is not currently in its hands. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is overseeing a tender process involving eight bidders for the three pilot schemes, with a decision due to be announced by the culture secretary, Ben Bradshaw, next Thursday.
The Conservatives are opposed to the plan, however – the shadow culture spokesman, Jeremy Hunt, has promised to block the proposal's passage through parliament as part of the digital economy bill.
A source involved in the process said that ITV executives are concerned about keeping control of advertising airtime around the regional news slots on ITV1, the quality of the proposed replacement services, and the longer-term implications of losing control of parts of the schedule on its flagship network.
In the English regions, the main ITV1 regional bulletin goes out between 6pm and 6.30pm, with other shorter local updates in the morning and at the end of the 1.30pm and 10pm network news programmes.
Another concern within ITV is said to be that is that the consortiums cut across Norman's attempts to boost the broadcaster's standing with the City, potentially grooming it for a sale or takeover, which could be hampered by a series of messy, publicly funded regional news partnerships.
Even if it continues producing local news for the English regions and Wales, ITV may look to make further cuts to the budget for the service, now about £60m a year. In late 2008 ITV cut 429 regional news staff – about 40% of the total – and £40m from budget.
ITV insiders said they have been working with the department to ensure the bidding process is successful, answering about 200 questions. However, others involved in the process dispute this.
During the process of public consultation and drawing up draft contracts the bidders needed key details from ITV, such as how many of the existing regional news staff they would be expected to transfer to the consortiums, under legislation to protect workers' rights.
One bidder said that the final draft contracts from would be suppliers had to be submitted by a deadline of Monday 8 March, but claimed ITV dragged its feet in providing key details until the Friday and Saturday before the deadline.
ITV is also said to have also tried, unsuccessfully, to demand oversight of the bidders' proposals. This is understood to have been rejected in favour of more general discussions.
Insiders at ITV admitted some replies were not sent until 5 or 6 March, but said that most questions were answered well before then. ITV has employed specialist consultants and lawyers on the process.
The selection panel chaired by Richard Hooper is on schedule to make a decision on the three winners next Tuesday, 23 March, ahead of Bradshaw's announcement on 25 March.
Successful bidders will share a pot of licence fee money from the digital switchover surplus worth £40m and will also have to sign a contract with ITV, which remains responsible for compliance.
• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.
• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".
ITV's new chairman, Archie Norman, is understood to be rethinking the broadcaster's decision to dump regional news, potentially throwing a further obstacle into the path of the government's plan to contract this programming out to independent suppliers.
Norman has been conducting a strategic review of all ITV's activities since taking over from Michael Grade in January and is said to be considering reversing his predecessor's decision to withdraw from local news provision for the English regions and Wales.
"Archie thinks ITV should continue to do regional news," a source close to the ITV chairman said. "His sentiment is that it is important, not something to walk away from."
ITV's attitude is understood to be hardening against the plan to test independently financed news consortiums (IFNCs) in Wales, Scotland and the North East and Borders region, which would produce regional bulletins for ITV1. The scheme is being rushed through parliament ahead of a likely May general election.
ITV currently provides regional news programming for two of the three pilots, in Wales and the North-East and Border region, and staff in these areas will transfer to the consortiums. STV supplies news for Scotland.
Should ITV wish to make a U-turn on dumping regional news production, the decision is not currently in its hands. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is overseeing a tender process involving eight bidders for the three pilot schemes, with a decision due to be announced by the culture secretary, Ben Bradshaw, next Thursday.
The Conservatives are opposed to the plan, however – the shadow culture spokesman, Jeremy Hunt, has promised to block the proposal's passage through parliament as part of the digital economy bill.
A source involved in the process said that ITV executives are concerned about keeping control of advertising airtime around the regional news slots on ITV1, the quality of the proposed replacement services, and the longer-term implications of losing control of parts of the schedule on its flagship network.
In the English regions, the main ITV1 regional bulletin goes out between 6pm and 6.30pm, with other shorter local updates in the morning and at the end of the 1.30pm and 10pm network news programmes.
Another concern within ITV is said to be that is that the consortiums cut across Norman's attempts to boost the broadcaster's standing with the City, potentially grooming it for a sale or takeover, which could be hampered by a series of messy, publicly funded regional news partnerships.
Even if it continues producing local news for the English regions and Wales, ITV may look to make further cuts to the budget for the service, now about £60m a year. In late 2008 ITV cut 429 regional news staff – about 40% of the total – and £40m from budget.
ITV insiders said they have been working with the department to ensure the bidding process is successful, answering about 200 questions. However, others involved in the process dispute this.
During the process of public consultation and drawing up draft contracts the bidders needed key details from ITV, such as how many of the existing regional news staff they would be expected to transfer to the consortiums, under legislation to protect workers' rights.
One bidder said that the final draft contracts from would be suppliers had to be submitted by a deadline of Monday 8 March, but claimed ITV dragged its feet in providing key details until the Friday and Saturday before the deadline.
ITV is also said to have also tried, unsuccessfully, to demand oversight of the bidders' proposals. This is understood to have been rejected in favour of more general discussions.
Insiders at ITV admitted some replies were not sent until 5 or 6 March, but said that most questions were answered well before then. ITV has employed specialist consultants and lawyers on the process.
The selection panel chaired by Richard Hooper is on schedule to make a decision on the three winners next Tuesday, 23 March, ahead of Bradshaw's announcement on 25 March.
Successful bidders will share a pot of licence fee money from the digital switchover surplus worth £40m and will also have to sign a contract with ITV, which remains responsible for compliance.
• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.
• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".