The Newsroom

ITV wants to axe some regional news services

From 17 to 9 (September 2007)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
FG
Funky Guy
Are Heather Larcombe, Susanna Boccaccio,John Harkins ,Lee Mackenzie and Courtney Macleod still at Border TV .
ST
South Today
Funky Guy posted:
Are Heather Larcombe, Susanna Boccaccio,John Harkins ,Lee Mackenzie and Courtney Macleod still at Border TV .


Heather and Susanna were last time I knew about, John Harkins moved over to Russia, Lee Mackenzie moved to sky sports and Courtney chose not to return from maternity leave.
SH
Showbizguru
Is Derek Batey still Programme Controller and man in charge of saying " if you can just go into the soundproof booth while we ask your wife a few questions . "
SO
Steven O
Showbizguru posted:
Is Derek Batey still Programme Controller and man in charge of saying " if you can just go into the soundproof booth while we ask your wife a few questions . "


Ah yes, the heyday of Border Television - making 'Mr & Mrs' for the ITV network. Some might say it's the only decent programme Border ever produced. Laughing
:-(
A former member
Steven O posted:
Showbizguru posted:
Is Derek Batey still Programme Controller and man in charge of saying " if you can just go into the soundproof booth while we ask your wife a few questions . "


Ah yes, the heyday of Border Television - making 'Mr & Mrs' for the ITV network. Some might say it's the only decent programme Border ever produced. Laughing


Oh I dunno... they had quite the run of studio-based programmes in the latter part of the 80s. Quite ambitious at one point considering their size Smile
SO
Steven O
jason posted:
Steven O posted:
Showbizguru posted:
Is Derek Batey still Programme Controller and man in charge of saying " if you can just go into the soundproof booth while we ask your wife a few questions . "


Ah yes, the heyday of Border Television - making 'Mr & Mrs' for the ITV network. Some might say it's the only decent programme Border ever produced. Laughing


Oh I dunno... they had quite the run of studio-based programmes in the latter part of the 80s. Quite ambitious at one point considering their size Smile


Quite right, Jason - they did indeed. (My 'Mr & Mrs' reply was tongue in cheek!) Wink

9 days later

ST
South Today
Any details on whats happening with Thames Valley yet - any idea of job numbers in Abingdon?
NW
nwtv2003
South Today posted:
Any details on whats happening with Thames Valley yet - any idea of job numbers in Abingdon?


I don't know about the job numbers, but Thames Valley is being merged with Meridian South and Meridian South East.

Although ITV Thames Valley is a product of the Charles Allen era at ITV, it was rather pointless creating it anyway, I'm sure people would have had an idea that the majority of ITV Sub-regions haven't got long left before they close, merge or relocate.

8 days later

DA
davros194
At last some hope, hot from tonights Liverpool Echo page 4!

CULTURE secretary Andy Burnham is considering curbs to stop ITV slashing regional news across Merseyside.
He has told officials to report on plans to halve regional coverage in the Granada region. The review could spark a new broadcasting bill to look at TV franchises.
Last month, ITV announced 1,000 job losses, including a 40% cut in regional news staff to protect its £1bn budget nationwide.

Well about time too Andy! Personally speaking I'm made up (as I live in Granadaland) but viewers in other regions may wonder why he has not stuck up for their area?

Forget the internet for the latest news... buy the Echo!
BR
Brekkie
Too little, too late - and compared to other regions, Granada is virtually unscathed anyway.
ST
Stuart
Brekkie posted:
Too little, too late - and compared to other regions, Granada is virtually unscathed anyway.

Is there an implied comment there Brekkie?
NW
nwtv2003
Brekkie posted:
Too little, too late - and compared to other regions, Granada is virtually unscathed anyway.


Agreed, Granada has little to do with Liverpool and Merseyside as a whole since they've moved out the Albert Dock Studios in 2006, it's been relegated to a small Newsroom in the Liver Building, although knowing ITV I wouldn't be surprised if that was closed. They closed the Chester Newsroom and replaced it with a Satellite truck. I think we're just lucky as Granada has always been a One Region News programme, so the cuts won't affect our output as much, although I do feel sorry for Tyne Tees/Border and Westcountry/West viewers who will get a lesser service.

For the whole of ITV News it's too little too late anyway, it will happen, I seriously doubt that Ofcom will be reject the plans.

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