ITV wants to axe some regional news services

I am very annoyed by ITV's insistence on cutbacks. When Michael Grade became Chairman, I thought with his strong family background in the success of ITV, he would turn ITV's fortunes around. It appears that this is not the case. ITV is supposed to be Independent TeleVision - note the word 'Independent'.
I was born in the Tyne Tees region and I was delighted to be able to watch its output from 1986, that I remember from, until I left the region in 2002. Tyne Tees' weatherman Bob Johnson was/is one of the high points of Tyne Tees Television News from his rambles with then-presenter Paul Frost and his cameraderie with Mike Neville. Bob has being there since 1990, or thereabouts, and should not be treated this way. Mind you, isn't he in his mid-60s now?

I am becoming far disillusioned with ITV now. Why not instead find other ways to cut down on costs? Get rid of all ITV's digital channels and keep only ITV2 maybe?

On the whole though the digital channels are actually profitable - though if any were to go it probably would be CITV.

It all goes back to the merger really and proves that the competition commission should have prevented it. Throw in OFCOM gifting ITV the regional franchises, with no threat of them being removed, and the culling of regional content over the years and it's no surprise ITV are in the state they're in now.

After all, surely a regional franchise showing little regional content won't be worth as much as a regional franchise with a healthy portfolio of regional programming.

When do we expect any announcements about ITV West and West Country? I would imagine Alexis, Richard, Lisa and Steve are all in the running for the one flagship programme?

Isn't Alexis off on maternity leave at the moment? Maybe she will decide to take voluntary redundancy as I can't imagine many of them would want to "up sticks" & move to Bristol...

One thing which annoys me about the West/Westcountry merger is a statement from the West & Westcountry Controller:

"Although there is pain, ultimately we will have a really strong news service that will better serve viewers in the South West"

Jane McCloskey, ITV West and West Country controller

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7644254.stm

I cannot see how merging 2 regions into 1 massive region stretching from the Isles of Scilly to Gloucestershire, closing the plymouth studios, cutting over 80 jobs and scrapping the 4 Westcountry sub-regions will create a "really strong news service that will better serve viewers"!

If you were Jane what would you say? You could hardly tell the truth...

I know she went on westcountry live and spotlight speaking that complete garbage!! Shes got blood on her hands and I hope she feels it.

For crying out loud...

Whats the problem? She has!

I believe Robert Mugabe started off in local tv cutbacks

I dont know if you two have after been in a redudancy situation but it isnt a pleasant experience for anyone apart from big bosses, which jane whatever shes called fits into!

Yes - bosses love making staff redundant. It's a real highlight of their day.