SP
I think it depended on which team it was, they were on whichever frequency they usually got on Saturdays when all teams were playing.
MK
Has the idea of a Liverpool sub-region on either ITV or BBC ever been floated? (I'd guess we'd be going back to the last century if it was!)
Yes, in the early 80s by the IBA. Rejected because of the complication that Winter Hill is the main transmitter for both cities. Liverpool is also served by the Storeton relay, but its use is by no means universal. Also complicated by the proximity to Wales, and the resulting shortage of spare frequencies to carry a service anyway.
Of course, 'petalling' as Ofcom have recenly name it, is something that's already in place on the Ridge Hill transmitter, in the south east of Herefordshire. It broadcasts both Central (as it always has done) for Herefrordshire, Worcestershire etc and a southern beam of ITV West towards Gloucestershire. The IBA looked into a 'Winter Hill B' for Liverpool, I'm guess in an attempt to see if they could make Granada a dual region, like Central & TVS but it never happened. The local TV proposals for the Liverpool area called it 'Winter Hill Petal 2', suggesting a Liverpool/Mersey TV station would broadcast from a south west beam from Winter Hill, as well as Storeton.
I certainly would like at least a sub-region in place, if not a full service. That said, I wouldn't be that bothered if the likes of Inside Out & The Politics Show were still North West.
Well, if you're happy with Mancunian media and Everton being last on Match Of The Day, good for you.
Personally, I feel Liverpool should have its own TV & radio, like it would have if it was in most other developed countries.
So 'no' to BBC Radio North West.
Personally, I feel Liverpool should have its own TV & radio, like it would have if it was in most other developed countries.
So 'no' to BBC Radio North West.
Has the idea of a Liverpool sub-region on either ITV or BBC ever been floated? (I'd guess we'd be going back to the last century if it was!)
Yes, in the early 80s by the IBA. Rejected because of the complication that Winter Hill is the main transmitter for both cities. Liverpool is also served by the Storeton relay, but its use is by no means universal. Also complicated by the proximity to Wales, and the resulting shortage of spare frequencies to carry a service anyway.
Of course, 'petalling' as Ofcom have recenly name it, is something that's already in place on the Ridge Hill transmitter, in the south east of Herefordshire. It broadcasts both Central (as it always has done) for Herefrordshire, Worcestershire etc and a southern beam of ITV West towards Gloucestershire. The IBA looked into a 'Winter Hill B' for Liverpool, I'm guess in an attempt to see if they could make Granada a dual region, like Central & TVS but it never happened. The local TV proposals for the Liverpool area called it 'Winter Hill Petal 2', suggesting a Liverpool/Mersey TV station would broadcast from a south west beam from Winter Hill, as well as Storeton.
I certainly would like at least a sub-region in place, if not a full service. That said, I wouldn't be that bothered if the likes of Inside Out & The Politics Show were still North West.
Last edited by Mr Kite on 14 October 2011 7:06pm
TV
That was the most interesting thing about the BBC protests at BBC Newcastle over Inside Out this week. They moaned people would be forced to watch features about Sheffield and Crewe. Well at present if you're in, say, Middlesbrough you have to watch stuff about Carlisle which is just as irrelevant.
Cumbria's not even in the BBC's North West region anyway. Any merging of Radio Cumbria would be with Radio Newcastle & Radio Tees, making a Radio North East & Cumbria.
That was the most interesting thing about the BBC protests at BBC Newcastle over Inside Out this week. They moaned people would be forced to watch features about Sheffield and Crewe. Well at present if you're in, say, Middlesbrough you have to watch stuff about Carlisle which is just as irrelevant.
PT
Cumbria (the county) is half in North West and half in North East. North East take formal control of Radio Cumbria - but the station ends up with a working relationship with both regions equally.
So, if they were merging stations along the same lines as the TV regions, I wouldn't be so sure the merger would be as simple as with Newcastle and Tees - they would probably split the county in half.
And this is the crucial point - Cumbria doesn't really have a proper home within BBC regional tv - hence the higher than average listenership for Radio Cumbria. If I want local news, I know I'll get it on the radio more than from the tv as far as the BBC is concerned.
Cumbria's not even in the BBC's North West region anyway. Any merging of Radio Cumbria would be with Radio Newcastle & Radio Tees, making a Radio North East & Cumbria.
Cumbria (the county) is half in North West and half in North East. North East take formal control of Radio Cumbria - but the station ends up with a working relationship with both regions equally.
So, if they were merging stations along the same lines as the TV regions, I wouldn't be so sure the merger would be as simple as with Newcastle and Tees - they would probably split the county in half.
And this is the crucial point - Cumbria doesn't really have a proper home within BBC regional tv - hence the higher than average listenership for Radio Cumbria. If I want local news, I know I'll get it on the radio more than from the tv as far as the BBC is concerned.
AL
Cumbria (the county) is half in North West and half in North East. North East take formal control of Radio Cumbria - but the station ends up with a working relationship with both regions equally.
So, if they were merging stations along the same lines as the TV regions, I wouldn't be so sure the merger would be as simple as with Newcastle and Tees - they would probably split the county in half.
And this is the crucial point - Cumbria doesn't really have a proper home within BBC regional tv - hence the higher than average listenership for Radio Cumbria. If I want local news, I know I'll get it on the radio more than from the tv as far as the BBC is concerned.
Along similar lines, what would happen to the Isle Of Man? There are sections on the BBC Red Button service for the North West and North East & Cumbria for this island so it will be interesting to see what happens.
Cumbria's not even in the BBC's North West region anyway. Any merging of Radio Cumbria would be with Radio Newcastle & Radio Tees, making a Radio North East & Cumbria.
Cumbria (the county) is half in North West and half in North East. North East take formal control of Radio Cumbria - but the station ends up with a working relationship with both regions equally.
So, if they were merging stations along the same lines as the TV regions, I wouldn't be so sure the merger would be as simple as with Newcastle and Tees - they would probably split the county in half.
And this is the crucial point - Cumbria doesn't really have a proper home within BBC regional tv - hence the higher than average listenership for Radio Cumbria. If I want local news, I know I'll get it on the radio more than from the tv as far as the BBC is concerned.
Along similar lines, what would happen to the Isle Of Man? There are sections on the BBC Red Button service for the North West and North East & Cumbria for this island so it will be interesting to see what happens.
SP
There's no reason for those sections to remain as they are, they're largely a hangover from the analogue transmission areas. They could be re-organised along similar lines to http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/hi/default.stm or larger macro regions if there isn't sufficient bandwidth.
Certainly I would hope that Yorkshire and Yorkshire & Lincs get separated now that the combined Ceefax region is no longer a factor.
Certainly I would hope that Yorkshire and Yorkshire & Lincs get separated now that the combined Ceefax region is no longer a factor.
MA
Cumbria (the county) is half in North West and half in North East. North East take formal control of Radio Cumbria - but the station ends up with a working relationship with both regions equally.
So, if they were merging stations along the same lines as the TV regions, I wouldn't be so sure the merger would be as simple as with Newcastle and Tees - they would probably split the county in half.
And this is the crucial point - Cumbria doesn't really have a proper home within BBC regional tv - hence the higher than average listenership for Radio Cumbria. If I want local news, I know I'll get it on the radio more than from the tv as far as the BBC is concerned.
Along similar lines, what would happen to the Isle Of Man? There are sections on the BBC Red Button service for the North West and North East & Cumbria for this island so it will be interesting to see what happens.
Since the Border region DSO the IOM is firmly in the BBC North West Region, (and ITV Granada).
As for local radio, no BBC service anyway, Manx Radio (which until recently was not under Ofcom etc control) rules the roost. In fact it predates any local mainland stations, been going since 1964.
Cumbria's not even in the BBC's North West region anyway. Any merging of Radio Cumbria would be with Radio Newcastle & Radio Tees, making a Radio North East & Cumbria.
Cumbria (the county) is half in North West and half in North East. North East take formal control of Radio Cumbria - but the station ends up with a working relationship with both regions equally.
So, if they were merging stations along the same lines as the TV regions, I wouldn't be so sure the merger would be as simple as with Newcastle and Tees - they would probably split the county in half.
And this is the crucial point - Cumbria doesn't really have a proper home within BBC regional tv - hence the higher than average listenership for Radio Cumbria. If I want local news, I know I'll get it on the radio more than from the tv as far as the BBC is concerned.
Along similar lines, what would happen to the Isle Of Man? There are sections on the BBC Red Button service for the North West and North East & Cumbria for this island so it will be interesting to see what happens.
Since the Border region DSO the IOM is firmly in the BBC North West Region, (and ITV Granada).
As for local radio, no BBC service anyway, Manx Radio (which until recently was not under Ofcom etc control) rules the roost. In fact it predates any local mainland stations, been going since 1964.
NT
Hence my suggestion of one clear channel of progression from Cbeebies through to CBBC through to BBC Three - a complete channel/transponder demographic from early years through to early 30's.
Oh yeah - because it makes so much sense to have programmes watched by 2 years old (on one EPG number) to be on the same channel as those aimed at 16-34.
I've not been averse to them merging in the past, and I think if CBBC was the more successful of the two channels they might have done, but really don't see the need now and think savings can be made in kids TV without closing a complete channel.
Absolutely agree though CBBC needs to target that early teen audience once more - and that doesn't mean they need to run later in the evening - the 5-7pm window is ample for that.
Although I'm a big fan of what the BBC has done / are doing with regards to children's output, I really don't see the need for the two channels either. I could see the purpose in CBBC channel broadcasting during the day when they showed educational / schools programme, but what is the point of a channel broadcasting when most of it's target audience will be at school 39 out of the 52 weeks? One solution in a merged situation would be for CBBC to broadcast on BBC Two when school was out. IE broadcast between say 7 and 9am / 4 and 6 ( or indeed 7pm ) on weekdays. This would also serve the dual purpose of filling time on BBC Two. The weekend hours could be shared similary.
I don't think it matters tbh. I think that the kids will ignore the branding and for the adults it's a nice demarkation line.
One thing I completely disagree with however was the retargeting of the CBBC to younger kids only. I think they lost a lot when ditching the early teen audience and the failure of BBC Switch has not helped matters .
One thing I completely disagree with however was the retargeting of the CBBC to younger kids only. I think they lost a lot when ditching the early teen audience and the failure of BBC Switch has not helped matters .
Hence my suggestion of one clear channel of progression from Cbeebies through to CBBC through to BBC Three - a complete channel/transponder demographic from early years through to early 30's.
Oh yeah - because it makes so much sense to have programmes watched by 2 years old (on one EPG number) to be on the same channel as those aimed at 16-34.
I've not been averse to them merging in the past, and I think if CBBC was the more successful of the two channels they might have done, but really don't see the need now and think savings can be made in kids TV without closing a complete channel.
Absolutely agree though CBBC needs to target that early teen audience once more - and that doesn't mean they need to run later in the evening - the 5-7pm window is ample for that.
Although I'm a big fan of what the BBC has done / are doing with regards to children's output, I really don't see the need for the two channels either. I could see the purpose in CBBC channel broadcasting during the day when they showed educational / schools programme, but what is the point of a channel broadcasting when most of it's target audience will be at school 39 out of the 52 weeks? One solution in a merged situation would be for CBBC to broadcast on BBC Two when school was out. IE broadcast between say 7 and 9am / 4 and 6 ( or indeed 7pm ) on weekdays. This would also serve the dual purpose of filling time on BBC Two. The weekend hours could be shared similary.
RA
The one thing missed from this DQF report is the closure of the horrific 'non region' of East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Should have gone and moved everything back to Leeds North of the Humber (plus Grimsby and Scunthorpe) and moved Lincolnshire back to the East Midlands region.
RI
As the BBC is now apparently cash strapped, I think both the BBC English regions should be re-organised to the same as the government regions (or as close as)...pretty much the same as ITV (except I feel both BBC and ITV should have a split between West and East Midlands regional programming).
Leave local type TV to the Channel 6 experiment...though if technically possible I'd like to see the local TV stations as a Channel 5 opt out instead as it would give that channel a truly unique selling point.
The one thing missed from this DQF report is the closure of the horrific 'non region' of East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Should have gone and moved everything back to Leeds North of the Humber (plus Grimsby and Scunthorpe) and moved Lincolnshire back to the East Midlands region.
As the BBC is now apparently cash strapped, I think both the BBC English regions should be re-organised to the same as the government regions (or as close as)...pretty much the same as ITV (except I feel both BBC and ITV should have a split between West and East Midlands regional programming).
Leave local type TV to the Channel 6 experiment...though if technically possible I'd like to see the local TV stations as a Channel 5 opt out instead as it would give that channel a truly unique selling point.