ITN has submitted plans to Carlton and Granada to absorb London News Network (LNN) and the London regional news service into its operation, if the merger of the ITV giants is successful, writes Paul Revoir
The news provider has submitted a cost analysis of taking over LNN, which currently employs around 260 people, including 130 in its news operation.
But a senior Granada executive insisted that the LNN brand would continue to exist even if it was brought within ITN. He said the most likely scenario would be that LNN would relocate to ITN’s offices at 200 Gray’s Inn Road. He added that discussions were at an early stage.
1) Great - ITN should really be seen as "Independent Television News" again and, to have ITV's main transmission operation ultimately operated by ITN, it would give them back a pride of place in the network - ITN could even become an acronym for "Independent Television Networks" instead of "...News". It could be good for morale within ITN and ITV regional centres might feel more affinity with them...
...and...
2) What a disaster - ITN obviously know that Granada want to commercially exploit the South Bank studios as much as possible - already it's become too pricey for most ITV programmes to be made at, and more and more non-core product seems to get made there. Which isn't a bad thing in terms of reputation, but it has become a victim of its own success - The London Studios is Granada's main cash cow, and any move to get as many ITV operations out and into other facilities is bound to have cost benefits - in other words, cheapen things. This is a cynical move by all concerned where the programme makers and interests in the network will ultimately be compromised.
Which of these two views I will rest on I really do not know - talk about confused!
1) Great - ITN should really be seen as "Independent Television News" again and, to have ITV's main transmission operation ultimately operated by ITN, it would give them back a pride of place in the network - ITN could even become an acronym for "Independent Television Networks" instead of "...News". It could be good for morale within ITN and ITV regional centres might feel more affinity with them...
...and...
2) What a disaster - ITN obviously know that Granada want to commercially exploit the South Bank studios as much as possible - already it's become too pricey for most ITV programmes to be made at, and more and more non-core product seems to get made there. Which isn't a bad thing in terms of reputation, but it has become a victim of its own success - The London Studios is Granada's main cash cow, and any move to get as many ITV operations out and into other facilities is bound to have cost benefits - in other words, cheapen things. This is a cynical move by all concerned where the programme makers and interests in the network will ultimately be compromised.
Which of these two views I will rest on I really do not know - talk about confused!
So, what you are really saying is that you're a schizophrenic.
On the other hand, it may just be that I always see two sides to every argument, it's just that this time, I took the time to write both instead of just one...
Yes interesting news isn't it... if LNN relocated to GIR then what would happen to that fantastic studio that London Tonight uses?
I guess it would return to LWT / London Studios who run the other studios in the Southbank building? I expect it would be a very popular studio for 3rd party use - it has the best backdrop in London doesn't it?!
Yes interesting news isn't it... if LNN relocated to GIR then what would happen to that fantastic studio that London Tonight uses?
I guess it would return to LWT / London Studios who run the other studios in the Southbank building? I expect it would be a very popular studio for 3rd party use - it has the best backdrop in London doesn't it?!
They have a similar studio for rent near the top of the tower (13th floor IIRC) it used to be used for LWT news and Friday night programmes. That seems to be rarely used except for corporate stuff
