ITV1 Thames Valley

So, according to www.itvlocal.com/thamesvalley, from today, the Thames Valley region joined Meridian:



Didn't last very long then did it?! Good old ITV!

ITV Thames Valley was just a hangover from the Charles Allen era at ITV, same goes for the East/West split of the 6.00pm Calendar aswell. The new Regional structure is something that is the brainchild of Michael Grade, I don't know what would have happened if Charles Allen was still at the helm, but I bet we would have seen more silly reorganisations like Thames Valley.

I feel sorry for people watching in Thames Valley area, as they had two sub-Regional News services, then one for the area and now one programme for their area, the South and South East. It's a sad sign of the times I'm afraid.

Completely off topic, but this advert on ITV Meridian made me chuckle.

http://itv-images.adbureau.net/itv/TTC_anti-stigma_ruby-wax-static_300x250.jpg

No more Thames Valley Tonight then? Will they take Meridian?

I'm a bit out-of-date with the ITV regions. There are two seperate Meridian news programmes, are there not?

Just 2 seperate versions for West and East that are pre-recorded with the same presenters for the first 18 minutes; the presenters of South East and Thames Valley said their subtle goodbyes on Friday. The new programme will be presented by Fred Dineage and Sangeeta. Debbie decided to move on.

When did Thames Valley launch then - can't have been more than 2-3 years ago?

Based on the map rather than any knowledge of the area, if OFCOM had seen the sense to compromise and not completely fall into ITV's hands it would have made sense to merge ITV West and Thames Valley into a new region, rather than creating the supersized Meridian and Westcountry regions.

Thames Valley launched in December 2006, so probably one of the shortest lived ITV Regional News programmes of all time.

Indeed very sad but it was never the same as Central South. I blame Mary.

The close of the last Thames Valley Tonight bulletin.

How apt that they get Mark Lispcomb to present the last Thames Valley Tonight bulletin, as he presented the last Central News South bulletin aswell.

So are they disposing of the set, cameras etc etc then?

That kit can't be very old...

Dont think they will prob just leave it all as it is. Although it would be nice if they could knock down the walls and create a larger studio out of the 3. I dont know the setup if they are back to back though like at Central and YTV.

Worth seeing the last main edition of TVT as they got a gathering of the main presenters in the studio for a farewell - nicely handed nothing as special as the final CNS of course.