BE
Lunchtime, late night and weekend bulletins reduced in minutage. The 6pm programme is reduced to 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of out of region content. Border split into two. Wales gains separate licence.
http://announce.ft.com/Detail/?DocKey=1323-11654353-4H0K2FPRCODMCI000O1RH39GKT
Quote:
more relevant to their local area.
Ofcom has approved proposals for a more localised Channel 3 news service across England. This will see ITV provide regional news in 14 separate news regions compared to the current eight news regions it operates.
In all but two of ITV's licences, the requirement for a weekday regional news bulletin in the early evening will be reduced from 30 minutes to 20 minutes. However, ITV has told Ofcom that its early evening news bulletins will continue to be 30 minutes long.
Ofcom considers that, in most regions, the benefits to viewers of a more localised news service will more than offset the reduction in the amount of regional news that ITV is required to provide under its licences.
However, Ofcom has rejected ITV's proposal to apply this reduction to the two largest regions - London and North West England. ITV's proposals for these areas would have reduced the volume of regional news without providing more localised coverage to benefit viewers.
Therefore, the amount of regional content ITV is required to provide in its weekday early evening news bulletins in these regions will remain at 30 minutes. Ofcom is also requiring 30 minutes of weekday early evening regional news content in the Border region which covers both sides of the England / Scotland border.
These changes, along with reductions in the length of lunchtime, late evening and weekend regional news bulletins in ITV's English licences2 are intended to help secure sustainable levels of regional programming.
Better serving viewers in the nations
In Scotland, Ofcom is requiring enhanced coverage of Scottish affairs in the area covered by ITV's Border licence that lies in Scotland to better serve viewers.
In addition to retaining a full 30 minutes of weekday early evening news relevant to the region, Ofcom will require a further weekly 90 minutes of regional programming to be scheduled for viewing in the Scottish part of the Border region. That programming may be shared with the other Channel 3 licensees in Scotland. ITV must now provide separate transmissions for the two parts of the Border region, so that viewers in England can continue to see network programming.
The current requirements for regional programming in central and northern Scotland will be maintained.
In Northern Ireland, Ofcom has rejected UTV's proposal to reduce the amount of regional non-news programming. This will remain at two hours a week given the strong support for retaining this level of programming and its relative popularity.
In Wales the overall news minutage will remain the same at 4 hours per week. ITV intends to retain the early evening 30 news minute slot, however, they may schedule shorter lunchtime bulletins in line with other English regions, and has the freedom to schedule the remaining news minutes elsewhere.
In the Channel Islands, the new licence will include a requirement to retain a full 30 minutes of regional early evening news, while reducing the length of lunchtime, late evening and weekend regional news bulletins in line with the English regions.
Ofcom has approved proposals for a more localised Channel 3 news service across England. This will see ITV provide regional news in 14 separate news regions compared to the current eight news regions it operates.
In all but two of ITV's licences, the requirement for a weekday regional news bulletin in the early evening will be reduced from 30 minutes to 20 minutes. However, ITV has told Ofcom that its early evening news bulletins will continue to be 30 minutes long.
Ofcom considers that, in most regions, the benefits to viewers of a more localised news service will more than offset the reduction in the amount of regional news that ITV is required to provide under its licences.
However, Ofcom has rejected ITV's proposal to apply this reduction to the two largest regions - London and North West England. ITV's proposals for these areas would have reduced the volume of regional news without providing more localised coverage to benefit viewers.
Therefore, the amount of regional content ITV is required to provide in its weekday early evening news bulletins in these regions will remain at 30 minutes. Ofcom is also requiring 30 minutes of weekday early evening regional news content in the Border region which covers both sides of the England / Scotland border.
These changes, along with reductions in the length of lunchtime, late evening and weekend regional news bulletins in ITV's English licences2 are intended to help secure sustainable levels of regional programming.
Better serving viewers in the nations
In Scotland, Ofcom is requiring enhanced coverage of Scottish affairs in the area covered by ITV's Border licence that lies in Scotland to better serve viewers.
In addition to retaining a full 30 minutes of weekday early evening news relevant to the region, Ofcom will require a further weekly 90 minutes of regional programming to be scheduled for viewing in the Scottish part of the Border region. That programming may be shared with the other Channel 3 licensees in Scotland. ITV must now provide separate transmissions for the two parts of the Border region, so that viewers in England can continue to see network programming.
The current requirements for regional programming in central and northern Scotland will be maintained.
In Northern Ireland, Ofcom has rejected UTV's proposal to reduce the amount of regional non-news programming. This will remain at two hours a week given the strong support for retaining this level of programming and its relative popularity.
In Wales the overall news minutage will remain the same at 4 hours per week. ITV intends to retain the early evening 30 news minute slot, however, they may schedule shorter lunchtime bulletins in line with other English regions, and has the freedom to schedule the remaining news minutes elsewhere.
In the Channel Islands, the new licence will include a requirement to retain a full 30 minutes of regional early evening news, while reducing the length of lunchtime, late evening and weekend regional news bulletins in line with the English regions.
http://announce.ft.com/Detail/?DocKey=1323-11654353-4H0K2FPRCODMCI000O1RH39GKT