IIRC from reading the Ofcom document last night, ITV still proposed a 30 minute regional news for Wales and the Channel Islands - so that does complicate any ideas of starting the national news at 6.20pm
Also good to see ITV syaing they have no issues with their remaining Welsh regional programming commitment
However I've got to say I think ITV should just start their Weekday National News at 18:20, as it clearly would give the channel an advantage over the BBC.
I don't think starting the news in the middle of the BBC News is an advantage. If anything it's worse.
Also good to see ITV saying they have no issues with their remaining Welsh regional programming commitment
What does ITV Wales produced? at least with stv opt out with some sort of show
Typically 3 half hours a week - normally Monday 2000, Tuesday 1930 and Thursday 2235. Mix of consumer programmes, investigations, politics and the usual local interest fare.
I think the 20 minute thing has been misread by some - as I read it it will be 20 mins of news from the region, then 10 mins of pan-regional news, so essentially similar to what is done now in Border/Tyne Tees etc. The big difference is that all 17 original regions get their half hour show (so no national news at 6.20) - whether they join up towards the end as now isn't clarified but that's a heck of a big chunk to pre-record across so many areas if so. For some areas like Granada this would be a reduction in the current service, but a lot of areas would benefit - eg. Border Scotland and Tyne Tees South, who don't even get an opt at the moment.
Think the 10 minutes in England will be one region's sub-regions coming together (i.e Central) which would be a decent plan and match the Home Nation's programming schedule. W
ould still like ITV to have a Peak time weekly Non-News Regional programme for Politics/Current Affairs with some Interviews (1st half) and Lighter Stories (2nd half).
Maybe cut some of the lighter stuff from the News and have the sub-regions for 15 minutes with the rest as whole regions?
More non-news regional programming is a must IMO - but actual programming, not political stuff.
ITV could also be quite clever and basically have regional versions of programmes they can repeat nationwide. Come Dine with Me is a good example - each ITV region could easily do 4-6 weeks of a show of that nature based in their own region, and then ITV could easily repeat all the regional versions nationwide over the year.
:-(
A former member
Did there not do that with Countrywide?
:-(
A former member
Also what happens if Scotland become independent? A new scottish OFCOM may demand a new review...
Think the 10 minutes in England will be one region's sub-regions coming together (i.e Central) which would be a decent plan and match the Home Nation's programming schedule. W
ould still like ITV to have a Peak time weekly Non-News Regional programme for Politics/Current Affairs with some Interviews (1st half) and Lighter Stories (2nd half).
Maybe cut some of the lighter stuff from the News and have the sub-regions for 15 minutes with the rest as whole regions?
More non-news regional programming is a must IMO - but actual programming, not political stuff.
ITV could also be quite clever and basically have regional versions of programmes they can repeat nationwide. Come Dine with Me is a good example - each ITV region could easily do 4-6 weeks of a show of that nature based in their own region, and then ITV could easily repeat all the regional versions nationwide over the year.
I think the Regions need both types of programming. I think that your idea is great. However I just can't see standalone Non-News Regional programming happening to be honest. So maybe ITV should look to at least placing a weekly 10 minute Political segment into their 6pm shows, possibly on a Thursday? After all I can't see the monthly Political segments continuing...
I always thought X-Factor would be an easy Regional programme to do...after all they have many auditions all over the country...
Now surely in the case of these franchises OFCOM should have minimum PSB requirements, especially for local news on ITV, and then if the existing franchise holder will commit to fulfilling them it's fair enough if they just get their licence renewed - but if they won't commit the franchise should go up for auction IMO.
Lets not forget that in 1991 the franchise holders all made commitments as to the service they would provide, and every single one of them later renegotiated those terms to cut back on PSB / regional requirements. That process has never stopped, with even the bare minimum PSB which ITV has left still under threat.
If there is a new franchise round, I think this should be a 'line in the sand' moment. Either PSB commitments are clearly defined and the regulator must stand their ground and refuse to allow the franchisee to reneg on those commitments during the term of the franchise, or, the new franchises do not include a PSB element at all, so at least it is clear what ITV is and is not there to provide. The farcical situation of ITV from 1993 to now when the franchisees clearly have a business model and a mindset to be a national, non PSB broadcaster yet continue to claim to be a regional, PSB-focused one which led to ITV merging together and cutting regional output whilst both they and the regulator denied it was happening should not be allowed to continue any longer. ITV has tried to keep one foot in both camps for far too long, any new franchises should be used to force ITV to commit to one or the other.
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Only 20 minutes during the half-hour programmes would be devoted to regional news, with the remaining 10 minutes used to deliver an aggregate of news events of interest to viewers across several regions.
I don't see the point, if there is to be a cutback on regional news then the remaining 10 minutes would be put to better use extending the national news.
This proposal is simply an expansion of the model already used by Tyne Tees/Border and HTV West/Westcountry - the main focus of the programme being the original region, but almost half the programme shared. It sounds quite good on paper, but in reality you just end up with half the programme alienating half the viewers - people in Penzance couldn't care less that the queen visited Bath any more than people in Bristol have any interest in watching coverage of the Devon County Show, yet this is what happens with the current merged region down here, and doubtless similar things happen up north in the merged TTTV/Border operation.
I can't see any value in expanding this concept.
Last edited by cwathen on 27 May 2012 9:24pm
:-(
A former member
Quote:
and every single one of them later renegotiated those terms to cut back on PSB / regional requirements. That process has never stopped, with even the bare minimum PSB which ITV has left still under threat.
I don't believe STV group did, there continue to broadcast above what is required, and even at a desperation, slotted in 10 year old kids programmes to try and keep them in.
CF
CatsFast101
I would love to see more regional shows, I think it's a shame now that there is none after all this is what ITV was all about! I mean in some regions do the old names even get a mention? Like HTV. Personally I think the political shows should stay let's keep them but at 11:35? Really? Does the 10:35 slot got many viewers anyway? Why not put them on then?Would like to see ITV insvest a little bit of money into some regional shows I mean even half an hour a week would be a start!
