MA
I think it launched, to 'assist' Central with their application for that round
TVS in the same round had put forward plans for an additional sub regional opt for Brighton (in addition to the Hannington, and Heathfield sub opts (within the Southampton and Maidstone full programmes respectively ) that came on stream 88/89) while Meridian proposed a third full programme from Hannington (aka Mer N from Newbury), but nothing extra from Brighton. The rest is history.
Apologies - I thought Central South launched after the '92 franchise round.
I think it launched, to 'assist' Central with their application for that round
TVS in the same round had put forward plans for an additional sub regional opt for Brighton (in addition to the Hannington, and Heathfield sub opts (within the Southampton and Maidstone full programmes respectively ) that came on stream 88/89) while Meridian proposed a third full programme from Hannington (aka Mer N from Newbury), but nothing extra from Brighton. The rest is history.
CO
The ITV regional TV situation in Gloucestershire is thankfully getting clearer. Over the years people here (and I'm Gloucester born and bred) have in some parts of the county had to put up with Midlands regional ITV, which we don't relate to. There have been many protests about this.
So if you lived in much of Gloucester City, and certainly Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and most of the north Cotswolds you got ITV Midlands - first Central, then Central West, and then Central South. (When we had analogue TV, in Gloucester City you got BBC West and ITV West via the old British Relay cable network.)
In the last few years, the Ridge Hill relay has beamed ITV West southeast to Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stonehouse and parts of the Dursley/Cam area. This has meant that these areas join Cirencester, Stroud, Tetbury and the Forest of Dean (who receive from Mendip and its relays) in being able to get ITV West through their aerials (although those getting their signal from Ridge Hill will have to wait until April 2011 to get it digitally.)
Today if you live in Gloucester and Cheltenham areas, you will also get ITV West as your region on Virgin cable, and the same applies to Sky and Freesat.
Just a few areas remain in Gloucestershire that do not get ITV West, and certainly a minority in terms of population: those served by the Winchcombe and Lark Stoke's relay of Sutton Coldfield; and those in a north-south narrow ribbon on the Oxfordshire border of the county, who get their pictures from Beckley and its Icomb Hill and Guiting Power relays. By next April then, I would assesss that 95% of Gloucestershire's population will be receiving ITV West through the three digital platforms.
The BBC regional TV position is a ridiculous mess. That is because the BBC has given no indication that it will use the Ridge Hill relay to transmit BBC Points West to Gloucester, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Stonehouse, and parts of Dursley/Cam area. This is crazy, and what makes it more stupid is that:
1. The BBC moved people in these areas onto BBC West via satellite, and sanctioned Virgin giving us BBC West and not Midlands.
2. BBC Points West have their Gloucestershire reporter based in the BBC Radio Gloucestershire offices in the city.
3. BBC Points West on a daily basis reports from Gloucester and the surrounding areas.
4. BBC Radio Gloucestershire previews BBC Points West every day.
5. Points West is a much smaller region than that covered by ITV's West Country Tonight, and so provides much better coverage of Gloucestershire.
6. The Ridge Hill mast has the relay in use for ITV West, with a transmitter in situ, and a trough receiver picking up the signals from Mendip.
At a time when DSO elsewhere in England is enabling places previously served by different regions together under one relevant region, the BBC is ignoring the possibility of doing just that for Gloucestershire, and giving up the opportunity of giving the local people what they have so long asked for.
I have asked the BBC for an explanantion, and received no reponse to my letters.....I despair!
So if you lived in much of Gloucester City, and certainly Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and most of the north Cotswolds you got ITV Midlands - first Central, then Central West, and then Central South. (When we had analogue TV, in Gloucester City you got BBC West and ITV West via the old British Relay cable network.)
In the last few years, the Ridge Hill relay has beamed ITV West southeast to Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stonehouse and parts of the Dursley/Cam area. This has meant that these areas join Cirencester, Stroud, Tetbury and the Forest of Dean (who receive from Mendip and its relays) in being able to get ITV West through their aerials (although those getting their signal from Ridge Hill will have to wait until April 2011 to get it digitally.)
Today if you live in Gloucester and Cheltenham areas, you will also get ITV West as your region on Virgin cable, and the same applies to Sky and Freesat.
Just a few areas remain in Gloucestershire that do not get ITV West, and certainly a minority in terms of population: those served by the Winchcombe and Lark Stoke's relay of Sutton Coldfield; and those in a north-south narrow ribbon on the Oxfordshire border of the county, who get their pictures from Beckley and its Icomb Hill and Guiting Power relays. By next April then, I would assesss that 95% of Gloucestershire's population will be receiving ITV West through the three digital platforms.
The BBC regional TV position is a ridiculous mess. That is because the BBC has given no indication that it will use the Ridge Hill relay to transmit BBC Points West to Gloucester, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Stonehouse, and parts of Dursley/Cam area. This is crazy, and what makes it more stupid is that:
1. The BBC moved people in these areas onto BBC West via satellite, and sanctioned Virgin giving us BBC West and not Midlands.
2. BBC Points West have their Gloucestershire reporter based in the BBC Radio Gloucestershire offices in the city.
3. BBC Points West on a daily basis reports from Gloucester and the surrounding areas.
4. BBC Radio Gloucestershire previews BBC Points West every day.
5. Points West is a much smaller region than that covered by ITV's West Country Tonight, and so provides much better coverage of Gloucestershire.
6. The Ridge Hill mast has the relay in use for ITV West, with a transmitter in situ, and a trough receiver picking up the signals from Mendip.
At a time when DSO elsewhere in England is enabling places previously served by different regions together under one relevant region, the BBC is ignoring the possibility of doing just that for Gloucestershire, and giving up the opportunity of giving the local people what they have so long asked for.
I have asked the BBC for an explanantion, and received no reponse to my letters.....I despair!