NW
At least SMG are thinking of being more regional, such as the considered East/West split, i.e an opt-out from Scotland Today for these areas, which is a good idea IMO, they from my view seem to be more committed to News than BBC Scotland, who only serve the Nation. The proposal for a Gaelic channel also interests me too, wouldn't they be easier if they got their hands on Tele G or something? (Depending on who owns Tele G)
Londoner posted:
Here is the SMG press release:
http://www.scottishtv.co.uk/content/default.asp?page=s5_4_4&newsid=2346
http://www.scottishtv.co.uk/content/default.asp?page=s5_4_4&newsid=2346
At least SMG are thinking of being more regional, such as the considered East/West split, i.e an opt-out from Scotland Today for these areas, which is a good idea IMO, they from my view seem to be more committed to News than BBC Scotland, who only serve the Nation. The proposal for a Gaelic channel also interests me too, wouldn't they be easier if they got their hands on Tele G or something? (Depending on who owns Tele G)
SI
Media guardian have also picked this up here.
In their usual London media centric way they get a number of facts wrong, For a start it's called "ITV plans Scottish national news" , I think it's SMG and not really anything to do with ITV per say. Also it says
I don't recall a Dundee opt being mentioned and Grampian already has it's own bulitin totally seperate from Scotland Today being "North Tonight".
In their usual London media centric way they get a number of facts wrong, For a start it's called "ITV plans Scottish national news" , I think it's SMG and not really anything to do with ITV per say. Also it says
Quote:
Other proposals in SMG's blueprint for Scottish broadcasting include dedicated local bulletins for Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh. The weekday local news slot between 6pm and 6.30pm, Scotland Today, would include items for specific areas in Scotland. For instance, the Glasgow studio would broadcast segments relevant to west central Scotland and the Aberdeen newsroom would cover the population north of Perth.
I don't recall a Dundee opt being mentioned and Grampian already has it's own bulitin totally seperate from Scotland Today being "North Tonight".
NE
What's in it for SMG? (obviously there has to be some sort of financial benefit)
Is this conditional on them ditching the 2pm show?
As for the 2pm show if they aren't allowed to ditch it, it will still have to be moved to 2.30 so that the hour long shows can be shown 1.30-2.30
Is this conditional on them ditching the 2pm show?
As for the 2pm show if they aren't allowed to ditch it, it will still have to be moved to 2.30 so that the hour long shows can be shown 1.30-2.30
PC
This would then make the 2.30pm programme even more pointless, because it would then end and the 3pm regional slot would start immediately (unless this is also being changed).
A lot is in it for SMG. For a start, they've put the onus on OFCOM to give them more money - if they don't get it they can then blame the regulators, before ditching their non-compulsory programmes.
On a related point - I remember on Newsnight Scotland that Bobby Hain from SMG had raised the proposal that SMG should be allowed to ditch network programming to free the money up for their own programmes. That seems a better idea within reason. At the moment SMG has to buy everything the network throws at them, whether they want it or not, or whether it's at all relevant to their regions or not. (England - A Celebration anyone?) As long as it doesn't affect peak-time or important programming, this might be an idea, and a lot cheaper.
Looking at each of the categories, they've been extremely cunning when it comes to Gaelic. It's well known that within SMG there's a resentment that they have to show Gaelic language programming (an executive once admitted as much years ago in a Daily Record interview). The idea of putting all the stuff on at the same time would create a Gaelic language ghetto, and also means ratings wouldn't plunge to near zero at various points in the week, but only on one night (or on Sunday afternoons, or whatever).
With news, it sounds like, in the Media Guardian quotes, that they are actually resentful of the fact they should be paying ITN to provide news. Are they wanting to do it themselves? The 10.30pm bulletin is a decent idea, although I don't think it would be as revolutionary as they are making out. It does expose the farce of the regulations though that it would have to be produced by ITN - but then, maybe that's what they're up to.
Regional - wow, four hours a week. Two points here - one is that Scotland is not a region, and therefore should have more programmes, and the other question is how many of these will be truly regional (ie only shown on one of Scottish or Grampian). Very few I suspect.
I don't think SMG is too interested in pursuing any of this to be honest - OFCOM won't give them the money, and they'll be able to say "Well we tried" before ditching local programmes at a whim.
I reckon OFCOM should call their bluff - let them ditch the odd network programme here and there in return for increasing (not matching) their regional commitments and providing this Scottish news bulletin, and the government should amend the regulations to allow the 10.30pm bulletin to come from Scotland. Then we'd see if they're serious.
A lot is in it for SMG. For a start, they've put the onus on OFCOM to give them more money - if they don't get it they can then blame the regulators, before ditching their non-compulsory programmes.
On a related point - I remember on Newsnight Scotland that Bobby Hain from SMG had raised the proposal that SMG should be allowed to ditch network programming to free the money up for their own programmes. That seems a better idea within reason. At the moment SMG has to buy everything the network throws at them, whether they want it or not, or whether it's at all relevant to their regions or not. (England - A Celebration anyone?) As long as it doesn't affect peak-time or important programming, this might be an idea, and a lot cheaper.
Looking at each of the categories, they've been extremely cunning when it comes to Gaelic. It's well known that within SMG there's a resentment that they have to show Gaelic language programming (an executive once admitted as much years ago in a Daily Record interview). The idea of putting all the stuff on at the same time would create a Gaelic language ghetto, and also means ratings wouldn't plunge to near zero at various points in the week, but only on one night (or on Sunday afternoons, or whatever).
With news, it sounds like, in the Media Guardian quotes, that they are actually resentful of the fact they should be paying ITN to provide news. Are they wanting to do it themselves? The 10.30pm bulletin is a decent idea, although I don't think it would be as revolutionary as they are making out. It does expose the farce of the regulations though that it would have to be produced by ITN - but then, maybe that's what they're up to.
Regional - wow, four hours a week. Two points here - one is that Scotland is not a region, and therefore should have more programmes, and the other question is how many of these will be truly regional (ie only shown on one of Scottish or Grampian). Very few I suspect.
I don't think SMG is too interested in pursuing any of this to be honest - OFCOM won't give them the money, and they'll be able to say "Well we tried" before ditching local programmes at a whim.
I reckon OFCOM should call their bluff - let them ditch the odd network programme here and there in return for increasing (not matching) their regional commitments and providing this Scottish news bulletin, and the government should amend the regulations to allow the 10.30pm bulletin to come from Scotland. Then we'd see if they're serious.
BR
Scotland 10.30 news is a great idea but why does it have to be made in London?? Could this programme not be made by ITN in Scotland? It could be edited and produced in Scotland the same way its going to be done in London.
As someone said earlier - Sky news provides two shows for Ireland made for Irish viewers in Ireland........................the same could and should be done for us Scots by ITN.
I am cautious though.....................instead of the itv news being all England this and England that we up north will get Glasgow this and Rangers that and Celtic this and Ibrox that!! What is the lesser of the two evils???
As someone said earlier - Sky news provides two shows for Ireland made for Irish viewers in Ireland........................the same could and should be done for us Scots by ITN.
I am cautious though.....................instead of the itv news being all England this and England that we up north will get Glasgow this and Rangers that and Celtic this and Ibrox that!! What is the lesser of the two evils???
JO
The proposal is that North Tonight will split part way through, and have one bulletin for Tayside and Fife and another for the rest of the region.
simpfeld posted:
I don't recall a Dundee opt being mentioned and Grampian already has it's own bulitin totally seperate from Scotland Today being "North Tonight".
The proposal is that North Tonight will split part way through, and have one bulletin for Tayside and Fife and another for the rest of the region.
YO
without causing on uproar by saying this
But with things going off in SMG it just increase the cause for one unified ITV network
But with things going off in SMG it just increase the cause for one unified ITV network
PC
Cue uproar.... 
I don't see that any of this increases the case for a single ITV. If anything, it increases the causes of independent stations. If SMG had already sold their stations to ITV PLC, they wouldn't even be pretending to OFCOM that they were going to provide a Scottish 10.30pm bulletin. They'd plough on, cutting as much regional stuff as possible (they seem to be better at lobbying the authorities) and during football tournaments give us an ITV1 Scotland version of an ident with an England flag on it.
Puffin's Pla(i)ce, the UTV decision to ditch Des and Mel, and SMG's various programmes (from the sublime, such as the political programming, through to the sometimes ridiculous nonsense at 7.30pm) are all great examples of quirky little oddities in British broadcasting - all too rare in this era of accountant-driven programming. They're also an example of each broadcaster providing programmes for each nation and long may it continue.
Not all of the British Isles likes the same programmes, not all of Britain follows the same laws, customs, education system etc, so therefore there should always be variations to the M25 agenda. And if programmes are being produced outside London, it allows more chance for talent from the rest of the country to be networked.
I don't see that any of this increases the case for a single ITV. If anything, it increases the causes of independent stations. If SMG had already sold their stations to ITV PLC, they wouldn't even be pretending to OFCOM that they were going to provide a Scottish 10.30pm bulletin. They'd plough on, cutting as much regional stuff as possible (they seem to be better at lobbying the authorities) and during football tournaments give us an ITV1 Scotland version of an ident with an England flag on it.
Puffin's Pla(i)ce, the UTV decision to ditch Des and Mel, and SMG's various programmes (from the sublime, such as the political programming, through to the sometimes ridiculous nonsense at 7.30pm) are all great examples of quirky little oddities in British broadcasting - all too rare in this era of accountant-driven programming. They're also an example of each broadcaster providing programmes for each nation and long may it continue.
Not all of the British Isles likes the same programmes, not all of Britain follows the same laws, customs, education system etc, so therefore there should always be variations to the M25 agenda. And if programmes are being produced outside London, it allows more chance for talent from the rest of the country to be networked.
LO
Some more details from Scotland on Sunday
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/business.cfm?id=112892005
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/business.cfm?id=112892005