TL
Three Lefts Do
Would that be the same story that was featured on ITV News at Ten last night, reported by Ben Chapman?
Re-hash of the same subject matter, but not literally the same report package. Different reporter, contributors etc, compared to the NaT item.
RI
Yes it does seem to be all one Westcountry franchise now. Indeed it does seem a bit like the 'Nations and Regions' approach (but with more sub-regions). If both the BBC and ITV officially took this type of programming on it would tidy things up greatly, allowing true competition between the two TV stations, allow for more non-News Regional programming (as surely there would be less News programmes produced?) and potentially help the Local TV stations gain an audience.
Having read the quote on the Yorkshire thread about the News having to be Pan-Regional (and having far more actual News because of it), surely there is a strong argument for less Regions (therefore less filler), more News programming from the BBC and ITV? Leave the fluff to the final story of the programmes. I really feel Ofcom missed something with the latest ITV Licence renewals (and cuts to the BBC's Regional News service should have been made too, saving some money for the corporation).
Add quotas for programming made in each region for BBC1/ITV and I feel you would start to see more balanced National/Regional Broadcasters. As PSB's there should be a varying Regional Production quotas for Channel 4 and Channel 5 too in my opinion.
I think most of us would like our ITV region to have more independence. Shame it's not going to happen. I agree with you that if put to tender, there'd probably be no shortage in interest to provide existing public service commitments and more. Seems like the separate Wales license thing is little more than a political fob with no practical changes.
My question regarding West was whether it was going to merge with Westcountry in terms of franchising, not necessarily the services. I'm aware of the current merged service set up over two franchise areas (which also happens with the Meridian service around Oxford and even the West service from Ridge Hill). Having looked it up, it does seem that the idea is to merge them into a greater Westcountry franchise. It all seems a bit 'nations & regions' to me, purely for the sake of it.
My question regarding West was whether it was going to merge with Westcountry in terms of franchising, not necessarily the services. I'm aware of the current merged service set up over two franchise areas (which also happens with the Meridian service around Oxford and even the West service from Ridge Hill). Having looked it up, it does seem that the idea is to merge them into a greater Westcountry franchise. It all seems a bit 'nations & regions' to me, purely for the sake of it.
Yes it does seem to be all one Westcountry franchise now. Indeed it does seem a bit like the 'Nations and Regions' approach (but with more sub-regions). If both the BBC and ITV officially took this type of programming on it would tidy things up greatly, allowing true competition between the two TV stations, allow for more non-News Regional programming (as surely there would be less News programmes produced?) and potentially help the Local TV stations gain an audience.
Having read the quote on the Yorkshire thread about the News having to be Pan-Regional (and having far more actual News because of it), surely there is a strong argument for less Regions (therefore less filler), more News programming from the BBC and ITV? Leave the fluff to the final story of the programmes. I really feel Ofcom missed something with the latest ITV Licence renewals (and cuts to the BBC's Regional News service should have been made too, saving some money for the corporation).
Add quotas for programming made in each region for BBC1/ITV and I feel you would start to see more balanced National/Regional Broadcasters. As PSB's there should be a varying Regional Production quotas for Channel 4 and Channel 5 too in my opinion.
RI
I think I agree Pan-Regional is probably better than the old Government Regions. However if both the BBC and ITV were to produce programmes for exactly the same Regions, there would be changes...I suspect with the Tyne Tees/Border regions, it would be the BBC's current model that would be followed with ITV Border Scotland going to STV (in exchange for savings made by ITV and other bonuses such as amendments of Contract Rights Renewal).
You're probably right regarding people wanting local first over hard News. That is however still not currently happening with ITV's News, with stories from Norwich being played in Newcastle etc. Your previous idea of extra Advertisements to help fund the News was a good idea in my opinion.
It depends on the region - just merging two regions together like Tyne Tees and Border didn't make any sense as the two regions had quite different identities. Also to many local "filler" is probably preferable to actual "news" from further afield.
I think I agree Pan-Regional is probably better than the old Government Regions. However if both the BBC and ITV were to produce programmes for exactly the same Regions, there would be changes...I suspect with the Tyne Tees/Border regions, it would be the BBC's current model that would be followed with ITV Border Scotland going to STV (in exchange for savings made by ITV and other bonuses such as amendments of Contract Rights Renewal).
You're probably right regarding people wanting local first over hard News. That is however still not currently happening with ITV's News, with stories from Norwich being played in Newcastle etc. Your previous idea of extra Advertisements to help fund the News was a good idea in my opinion.
AN
Andrew
Founding member
People want lighter stories in regional news magazines though as long as they are well done and relevant, they don't want half an hour of hard news. They don't want stories that are obviously from outside the region. I've spoken to non-pres fans who have noticed this (and random regional weather cover) and don't like it.
I don't think it should have been one size fits all, each region should have been looked at individually, some required full separate half hours, some only required maybe a sub opted news round up/sports results etc.
I don't think it should have been one size fits all, each region should have been looked at individually, some required full separate half hours, some only required maybe a sub opted news round up/sports results etc.
RI
Good points. Localised is the best way to go if possible. I hate the random Weather cover myself (having mentioned it here before). I think you're right about too much hard News too, though too less is just as damaging.
In some ways I wish the 6pm programme had been reduced to 20 minutes with no out of area stuff (unless it's a story about an Airport used by locals or something like that) I'm just surprised no compensation wasn't offered by ITV/Ofcom to STV/UTV to make this happen. Yes Wales/Channel Islands would also lose 10 minutes per night but surely another weekly Regional programme would help ease the pain?
A weekly Pan-Regional Politics/Current Affairs show would be good for all Regions not just Border and Wales...Interviews, Debate, Political/Current Affairs News updates and maybe a lighter story to finish the programme.
People want lighter stories in regional news magazines though as long as they are well done and relevant, they don't want half an hour of hard news. They don't want stories that are obviously from outside the region. I've spoken to non-pres fans who have noticed this (and random regional weather cover) and don't like it.
I don't think it should have been one size fits all, each region should have been looked at individually, some required full separate half hours, some only required maybe a sub opted news round up/sports results etc.
I don't think it should have been one size fits all, each region should have been looked at individually, some required full separate half hours, some only required maybe a sub opted news round up/sports results etc.
Good points. Localised is the best way to go if possible. I hate the random Weather cover myself (having mentioned it here before). I think you're right about too much hard News too, though too less is just as damaging.
In some ways I wish the 6pm programme had been reduced to 20 minutes with no out of area stuff (unless it's a story about an Airport used by locals or something like that) I'm just surprised no compensation wasn't offered by ITV/Ofcom to STV/UTV to make this happen. Yes Wales/Channel Islands would also lose 10 minutes per night but surely another weekly Regional programme would help ease the pain?
A weekly Pan-Regional Politics/Current Affairs show would be good for all Regions not just Border and Wales...Interviews, Debate, Political/Current Affairs News updates and maybe a lighter story to finish the programme.
Last edited by Rijowhi on 5 April 2014 11:54am
RI
A thought following my post on 'The Day ITV Changed Forever thread. With the BBC dominating the 6pm Newshour, would ITV be better off having their main Regional News bulletin at 10:30pm instead (after News At Ten). It could potentially bring in a few more viewers to ITV's News At Ten too if people know an extended Regional News bulletin follows? Would a Quiz Show or Soap at 6pm bring in more viewers for a 7 minute sub-Regional News/18:30 National News than the current set up? As stated before maybe Ofcom could scrap the '10 minutes from anywhere' segment (as current) in return for a totally sub-Regional News service and a weekly 20 minute Pan-Regional Political programme? Could it work if the BBC and ITV had different main Regional News bulletin times (with the BBC banned from anymore than the current bulletin at 22:30pm).
6 sub-Regional bulletins within Good Morning Britain.
Sub-Regional bulletin following the 13:30 News.
7 minute sub-Regional bulletin at 18:23pm.
20 minute sub-Regional programme at 22:30.
A weekly 20 minute Pan-Regional programme after the 22:30 News programme.
6 sub-Regional bulletins within Good Morning Britain.
Sub-Regional bulletin following the 13:30 News.
7 minute sub-Regional bulletin at 18:23pm.
20 minute sub-Regional programme at 22:30.
A weekly 20 minute Pan-Regional programme after the 22:30 News programme.
BR
The short answer: No.
The long answer: 3-4m watch the regional news at 6pm, they'd be lucky to get 1m at 10.30pm. Also considering most nights the 6pm hour runs ad-free there isn't much point in putting potentially higher rated shows in the slot when they won't bring in the ratings. We all know launching new soaps is pretty much impossible - there simply isn't the demand for more. If they went for the quiz show option they'd presumably just move The Chase to 5.30pm, leaving a 30-minute gap earlier in the schedule to fill - and generally speaking they don't seem to commission 30-minute shows for daytime anymore.
The long answer: 3-4m watch the regional news at 6pm, they'd be lucky to get 1m at 10.30pm. Also considering most nights the 6pm hour runs ad-free there isn't much point in putting potentially higher rated shows in the slot when they won't bring in the ratings. We all know launching new soaps is pretty much impossible - there simply isn't the demand for more. If they went for the quiz show option they'd presumably just move The Chase to 5.30pm, leaving a 30-minute gap earlier in the schedule to fill - and generally speaking they don't seem to commission 30-minute shows for daytime anymore.
Last edited by Brekkie on 29 October 2014 9:22pm
RI
I agree with you that (like all of us I suspect) that a new Soap is a no go area. I also suspect they'd probably move The Chase to 17:30 if they went for a Quiz as it's a high rating programme already (which could lead nicely onto the reduced News programming as present). This means if ITV did go this way with their Regional News programming they may not see much if any difference in viewing figures (and the affiliates would be able to join the 18:30 ITV News as present - I suspect STV/UTV would keep their 6pm National as present - with ITV Wales maybe having their 30 minute programme at 22:30? Would Ofcom let ITV Wales reduce their early Evening offering to 7 minutes as per England?).
As for 30 minute shows, they do seem in short supply these days. Would have loved ITV to take a chance on Challenge's ill fated Blockbusters reboot with Simon Mayo. I believe that could have worked on a bigger rating channel such as it's original home ITV. Advertising revenue is the thing that has probably killed this idea though, unless Ofcom approved a extra short break in return for the measures proposed. Unlikely.
The short answer: No.
The long answer: 3-4m watch the regional news at 6pm, they'd be lucky to get 1m at 10.30pm. Also considering most nights the 6pm hour runs ad-free there isn't much point in putting potentially higher rated shows in the slot when they won't bring in the ratings. We all know launching new soaps is pretty much impossible - there simply isn't the demand for more. If they went for the quiz show option they'd presumably just move The Chase to 5.30pm, leaving a 30-minute gap earlier in the schedule to fill - and generally speaking they don't seem to commission 30-minute shows for daytime anymore.
The long answer: 3-4m watch the regional news at 6pm, they'd be lucky to get 1m at 10.30pm. Also considering most nights the 6pm hour runs ad-free there isn't much point in putting potentially higher rated shows in the slot when they won't bring in the ratings. We all know launching new soaps is pretty much impossible - there simply isn't the demand for more. If they went for the quiz show option they'd presumably just move The Chase to 5.30pm, leaving a 30-minute gap earlier in the schedule to fill - and generally speaking they don't seem to commission 30-minute shows for daytime anymore.
I agree with you that (like all of us I suspect) that a new Soap is a no go area. I also suspect they'd probably move The Chase to 17:30 if they went for a Quiz as it's a high rating programme already (which could lead nicely onto the reduced News programming as present). This means if ITV did go this way with their Regional News programming they may not see much if any difference in viewing figures (and the affiliates would be able to join the 18:30 ITV News as present - I suspect STV/UTV would keep their 6pm National as present - with ITV Wales maybe having their 30 minute programme at 22:30? Would Ofcom let ITV Wales reduce their early Evening offering to 7 minutes as per England?).
As for 30 minute shows, they do seem in short supply these days. Would have loved ITV to take a chance on Challenge's ill fated Blockbusters reboot with Simon Mayo. I believe that could have worked on a bigger rating channel such as it's original home ITV. Advertising revenue is the thing that has probably killed this idea though, unless Ofcom approved a extra short break in return for the measures proposed. Unlikely.