MA
Oh give it a rest, do you just expect them to give up and pander to the opinions of many on this forum and others. You don't keep going for 50 years if you're not entertaining.
NW
It's encouraging to see that ITV1 HD will be launching sometime next year on Freesat for now.
It's a shame they're proposing to merge some of the Regional News programmes, but it's inevitable, audiences are changing, ITV just doesn't have the money to do this anymore, Regional News (and National too) costs quite alot. ITV is a business and it's there to make a profit, if it isn't at the end of the day you need to see what's holding you back and in the case of ITV some of the non-profitable products such as Regional News.
The South seem to be getting the brunt of this, with two super Regions being effectively created. But I guess it's the only way that Regional News outside of the BBC will still be available.
At least Granada won't be affected
It's a shame they're proposing to merge some of the Regional News programmes, but it's inevitable, audiences are changing, ITV just doesn't have the money to do this anymore, Regional News (and National too) costs quite alot. ITV is a business and it's there to make a profit, if it isn't at the end of the day you need to see what's holding you back and in the case of ITV some of the non-profitable products such as Regional News.
The South seem to be getting the brunt of this, with two super Regions being effectively created. But I guess it's the only way that Regional News outside of the BBC will still be available.
At least Granada won't be affected
LE
With the ITV West / Westcountry merger, I think it may complicate things such as 'what's on west' where they give a short brief into theatres and entertainments as it would have to cover a larger region. I am sure the main presenters can't be too pleased if they'd have to lose their spot and compete with other regional presenters for their places... I think I'd just switch to Spotlight instead of listening to what's happening up the M5 in Bristol because TBH I don't really care.
TV
you are approaching this from the position that itv are on a level playing field with the likes of sky one, ftn etc. they are not, they are a former monopoly, with an extremely privileged position stemming from their history. being gifted half a multiplex of extremely valuable space on DTT, having the prime position on the EPG amongst other commercial broadcasters.
in exchange for the distortion this could cause the market - it seems only logical that itv should provide a certain level of PSB commitments.
(take a look at the restrictions placed on the likes of BT, who still have to provide a network of public telephone boxes)
if they do want to be set free of all PSB obligations perhaps they should relinquish the prime EPG position, and let the government auction that to the highest bidder, and also let the government auction itv's half of the D3&4 mux.
and in response to your "audiences are changing" remark ... how are they changing? i presume you're just regurgitating some itv press release or something? if anything consumers want news that is increasingly local as opposed to news from several hundred miles away as itv are now proposing.
and if you take a look at the ratings for the bbc regional news, you will see that the appetite for regional news is not diminishing, it is certainly not what can be described as a scheduling weak spot.
if any one's appetite is changing it is that of itv's shareholders, not the viewers.
tvmercia
Founding member
nwtv2003 posted:
It's a shame they're proposing to merge some of the Regional News programmes, but it's inevitable, audiences are changing, ITV just doesn't have the money to do this anymore, Regional News (and National too) costs quite alot. ITV is a business and it's there to make a profit, if it isn't at the end of the day you need to see what's holding you back and in the case of ITV some of the non-profitable products such as Regional News.
you are approaching this from the position that itv are on a level playing field with the likes of sky one, ftn etc. they are not, they are a former monopoly, with an extremely privileged position stemming from their history. being gifted half a multiplex of extremely valuable space on DTT, having the prime position on the EPG amongst other commercial broadcasters.
in exchange for the distortion this could cause the market - it seems only logical that itv should provide a certain level of PSB commitments.
(take a look at the restrictions placed on the likes of BT, who still have to provide a network of public telephone boxes)
if they do want to be set free of all PSB obligations perhaps they should relinquish the prime EPG position, and let the government auction that to the highest bidder, and also let the government auction itv's half of the D3&4 mux.
and in response to your "audiences are changing" remark ... how are they changing? i presume you're just regurgitating some itv press release or something? if anything consumers want news that is increasingly local as opposed to news from several hundred miles away as itv are now proposing.
and if you take a look at the ratings for the bbc regional news, you will see that the appetite for regional news is not diminishing, it is certainly not what can be described as a scheduling weak spot.
if any one's appetite is changing it is that of itv's shareholders, not the viewers.
SE
(take a look at the restrictions placed on the likes of BT, who still have to provide a network of public telephone boxes)
Bit of a poor example given that BT has reduced the number of phone boxes by over 28,000 in the last 5 years. Yes they have to maintain a network, but it's on a much smaller scale than it was a few decades ago. New services and technologies moves things on.
There are now hundreds of commercial channels all battling for a share of the advertising pot, this is not 1982. I'm sure if the BBC found they were having to share the licence fee with just a handful of other broadcasters, we'd be seeing the reduction in regional news services overnight.
We are already hearing of cuts in news following the decision to restrict the licence fee settlement to a 3% increase over the next few years.
Square Eyes
Founding member
tvmercia posted:
(take a look at the restrictions placed on the likes of BT, who still have to provide a network of public telephone boxes)
Bit of a poor example given that BT has reduced the number of phone boxes by over 28,000 in the last 5 years. Yes they have to maintain a network, but it's on a much smaller scale than it was a few decades ago. New services and technologies moves things on.
There are now hundreds of commercial channels all battling for a share of the advertising pot, this is not 1982. I'm sure if the BBC found they were having to share the licence fee with just a handful of other broadcasters, we'd be seeing the reduction in regional news services overnight.
We are already hearing of cuts in news following the decision to restrict the licence fee settlement to a 3% increase over the next few years.
TV
And that cannot possibly be a good thing in terms of local news provision. As someone else has suggested, people want news that is MORE local.
ITV plc have been scheming and plotting for years to cut the number of news regions and by merging HTV West with Westcountry (the latter already a large geographical area), we will be left with a new super-region stretching from parts of Gloucestershire all the way down to Land's End! And what's the betting there'll be a shameless Bristol bias?
Full credit to the BBC for doing the opposite and increasing the number of news regions in recent years, there is still some room for improvement here but you can see what will happen - South West viewers will defect to the BBC for local news and this will give ITV plc the ammunition it needs to close down its operation entirely. We have been warned.
russnet posted:
Yes but this isn't the late 70s/early 80s no more. TV has changed since then and appears to have gone full circle in the Midlands.
And that cannot possibly be a good thing in terms of local news provision. As someone else has suggested, people want news that is MORE local.
ITV plc have been scheming and plotting for years to cut the number of news regions and by merging HTV West with Westcountry (the latter already a large geographical area), we will be left with a new super-region stretching from parts of Gloucestershire all the way down to Land's End! And what's the betting there'll be a shameless Bristol bias?
Full credit to the BBC for doing the opposite and increasing the number of news regions in recent years, there is still some room for improvement here but you can see what will happen - South West viewers will defect to the BBC for local news and this will give ITV plc the ammunition it needs to close down its operation entirely. We have been warned.
NI
That's a point but you don't keep going if there's no advertisement revenue. ITV does need to change in some way and it's foolhardy to assume that people on a board and their opinions don't count somehow because aren't they the very people who'll decide if they get another 50 years or not?
markstewart posted:
Oh give it a rest, do you just expect them to give up and pander to the opinions of many on this forum and others. You don't keep going for 50 years if you're not entertaining.
That's a point but you don't keep going if there's no advertisement revenue. ITV does need to change in some way and it's foolhardy to assume that people on a board and their opinions don't count somehow because aren't they the very people who'll decide if they get another 50 years or not?
MA
From Broadcast:
ITV has confirmed it will buy more UK and US indies as part of the broadcaster's five year growth plan.
Chief operating officer John Cresswell said the focus would be on organisations that complement the broadcaster's existing strengths. Indies with a track record, respected talent and revenues of between £10m and £50m are targets.
Now wouldn't Talkback Thames be an interesting acquisition
ITV has confirmed it will buy more UK and US indies as part of the broadcaster's five year growth plan.
Chief operating officer John Cresswell said the focus would be on organisations that complement the broadcaster's existing strengths. Indies with a track record, respected talent and revenues of between £10m and £50m are targets.
Now wouldn't Talkback Thames be an interesting acquisition
IS
<pedant> Talkback Thames isn't an Indie </pedant>
markstewart posted:
From Broadcast:
ITV has confirmed it will buy more UK and US indies as part of the broadcaster's five year growth plan.
Now wouldn't Talkback Thames be an interesting acquisition
ITV has confirmed it will buy more UK and US indies as part of the broadcaster's five year growth plan.
Now wouldn't Talkback Thames be an interesting acquisition
<pedant> Talkback Thames isn't an Indie </pedant>
:-(
A former member
that could only happen if RTE buys itv
MA
<pedant> Talkback Thames isn't an Indie </pedant>
Why not
Inspector Sands posted:
markstewart posted:
From Broadcast:
ITV has confirmed it will buy more UK and US indies as part of the broadcaster's five year growth plan.
Now wouldn't Talkback Thames be an interesting acquisition
ITV has confirmed it will buy more UK and US indies as part of the broadcaster's five year growth plan.
Now wouldn't Talkback Thames be an interesting acquisition
<pedant> Talkback Thames isn't an Indie </pedant>
Why not