Fight to save Border news goes to the top
Last updated 09:52, Saturday, 05 July 2008
ITV chiefs came under increased pressure last night to save Lookaround as Cumbrian bosses took their campaign to London.
A delegation led by some of Cumbria’s most influential decision-makers held a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with TV bosses about the threatened ITV Border and Tyne Tees’ proposed news merger.
Cumbria County Council leader Tim Stoddard led the talks with ITV director of the regions Michael Jeremy at the broadcaster’s London headquarters yesterday on the future of the flagship news programme.
ITV wants to merge Border and Tyne Tees’ news operations as part of a nationwide overhaul aimed at saving £40 million-a-year.
If approved, Lookaround – one of the nation’s best-watched regional news programmes – will be replaced by a single bulletin covering the North East, Cumbria, southern Scotland and the Isle of Man.
It would include mini “opt-out” bulletins for Cumbria and southern Scotland.
All parties agreed that the meeting was a constructive one and gave an opportunity to clarify the reasons for ITV's proposed changes and their potential impact on the region.
Another meeting will take place in about ten days.
Mr Stoddard said: “Lookaround is one of the most valued and well-loved of any of ITV's regional news programmes.
“The depth of support for its local coverage is proved time and time again in both the audience viewing figures and our own surveys of local people.
“Losing Lookaround would have a major impact on the identity of the region.
“The meeting has helped quantify some of the economic and social effects of the proposed ITV changes and has also been an extremely useful guide to the rationale behind the proposed regulatory changes.
“We have agreed to meet again with ITV so that we can prepare a fully-informed response once the next stage of Ofcom's consultation begins in September.”
Mr Stoddard added: “We wanted to make them understand the value of the viewing. Border are interested in the little pieces of news too such as fetes and openings of things.
“They are very community minded. We wanted to ensure that whatever the slot of time made available it would be local. Michael Jeremy was totally committed to providing the best service. He was very open to us bringing our worries to him.”
County council chief executive Peter Stybelski added: “There was a great understanding of issues on both sides. It is about saving local news. Overall it was very constructive and has led to another meeting. It was very fair and a good exchange of views.”Broadcasting regulator Ofcom will have the final say on the proposals as part of a review into public service broadcasting, covering the likes of regional television. County council chiefs have already submitted their opposition saying the area's identity would be lost if the programme were to be scrapped.
The first phase of that review has just closed with a second phase due to begin in September. The fate of Lookaround is expected to be known by early next year.
Others in the delegation included Carlisle City Council leader Mike Mitchelson and chief executive Maggie Mooney, Copeland Council chief executive Liam Murphy and Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Rev Graham Dow.
The plans have met with staunch opposition from MPs, viewers and local based journalists working at the station. It is feared the North East would receive better coverage, pushing Border out of the picture – a claim denied by ITV bosses.
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