ITV WEST NEWS- Success or in distress?

Well you're all very VERY close.

Well I have to reveal- Bob Crampton and Sherrie Eugine will be new faces of ITV West News on June 9th.

Susan Osman will NOT be returning to ITV West- she has plans to become a media teacher. A change of career is in the wings for Susan. After taking a big pay off - she still lives in Bristol but has no definite plans yet on what to do.

Gary C you were right about the lease on the building on the water front, but due to various complicated reasons the company can't move out of Bath Road. Reasons I will explain in a min. They will now stay there at least up until the franchaise comes up. New ITV corporate set in June, and Avid Newscutter and INews Newsgathering computer system to be installed in October. So Bath Road will stay the hub for ITV West and soon to be another....

Interested..... well you may all be aware but Endemol are pulling out of Bristol, although not completely. After spending nearly 3 million on their new building, they will not be residing in the city.

Not confirmed but rumours circulating at top levels on the South Bank- include Westcountry closing their main studio at Plympton and moving their output operations into B1, the second studio in Bath Road. Currently used by Brainteaser.

After the relatively successful move for Central East into Central West's building in Birmingham- West and Westcountry will soon be in the same building as well- with a similar arrangement (well accoridng to rumour anyway).

But this will not be again, until the franchaise is renewed, if it is to be renewed.

And Uncle Bruce, yes parking will always be a problem for a newsgathering organisation where it is around the world. Why move ITV West News from a part of town where there are over 200 parking spaces FREE. The City Centre property had access issues and parking problems. So even though the building in Bristol City Centre is still empty,, ITV West will NOT be moving in.

Love it!

The early phases of the West and Westcountry merger.

Now, HOW long is it exactly that I've been saying that?

Well they certainly are interesting developments.

Perhaps needed at ITV West?

Well, If ITV sorted out who's in charge of the Facility in Bristol, they could FILL the building. Currently there are 2 live studio shopping channels, a live interactive channel, a music channel, a sports producer and a film production co all looking for space in Bristol M5/M4 Block (good air & Fibre links...)
Is'nt Bath Road a huge unfilled building...

You're right Gary, yes Bath Road is almost 60% empty.

You wanna move in???

Like I said earlier, profile, I offered it only as a rumour I'd heard - I was certainly on your side on the parking issue.

As with all rumours, I offered no guarentee that it was true ..

But thanks for the rest of the info. God knows how you got it, but well done for posting it.

No problem Uncle Bruce, you were always a brilliant broadcaster. I think they should bring you back to read the news!

he he he

What makes you think were in Bristol?? Farto far from a Starbucks for my taste...and why stick out there when nice floors in Colston Tower with a view are on offer....

How long IS the end of franchise?? 3/4 years??

Yeah 2008 I think, not sure exactly.

Something will happen before then though. By then ITV plc will either be sold to some huge American firm like Viacom or Clear Channel or will have gone bankrupt.

So administrators will try to salvage a failed broadcasting company, by taking drastic measures to keep the channel on air.

Maybe in each individual area other large companies will have to bid for the franchaise. Oh ... haven't we been here before once before?

after digital switch off, I though there will be no more franchise rounds??

are the franchises not automatically extended these days?

Well this is a question many in the business don't know the answer to.

Some say this whole franchaise thing won't exist anymore because ITV owns 80% of the network. So when 2008 comes along- things will just carry on as they are.

However there is still Scottish and Ulster and Channel that aren't owned by ITV plc.

So in theory the individual licences to broadcast in these regions are still 10 years in duration.. Is it 10 years?? I can't remember. Around that number anyway.

So how can part of the network be safe, and yet other bits unsafe. In theory Telewest or Sky could still bid for the remaining 3 licences not owned by ITV.

If anyone knows any fresh info on this - I'd be interested to hear.