Published at 21:48, Wednesday, 12 March 2008

ITV BOSS Michael Grade says the company will press on with a plan to axe Border’s Lookaround news programme.

In unveiling a 35 per cent fall in profits for the broadcaster, the chief executive said plans to reduce Cumbria and southern Scotland regional evening news to a 10-minute ‘opt-out’ in the Tyne Tees show remained on track.

The cash saved would be ploughed into new programmes for ITV which, Mr Grade said, would better suit the public interest.

He confirmed that jobs would go if the shake-up was given the go-ahead by regulator Ofcom.

Mr Grade said: “We recognise that these plans will have implications in terms of regional staffing but we believe it is right to be open about our plans and their rationale.

“Our plans would ensure that every home in the country retained access to a high-quality ITV regional news service from 2009, while maximising investment in original network programming where the core public interest lies.”

He said the news service on the itvlocal.com website would make up for any reduction in TV service.

ITV last week reported that annual profits for 2007 had fallen by 35 per cent to £188m after a difficult year but said its ‘turnaround plan’ was on track.

The decision to axe Lookaround has met with huge opposition from politicians, businesses and the public.

It has since emerged that an anonymous Cumbrian business consortium had bid up to £12m to buy the station and save Lookaround but the offer had been rejected by ITV.

A public consultation on the plans will be launched by broadcast industry regulator Ofcom later this year. A decision is expected by next spring.

One of the MPs campaigning to retain Lookaound, Eric Martlew, who represents Carlisle, says Border could hold the key to transforming the broadcaster’s flagging financial fortunes.

He believes ITV should follow the model of Border and produce more regional programmes instead of fewer if it wants to drive up viewing figures and advertising profits.

He said: “I really think regional television should be based on the Border model.

“It should be local to the viewer because you get a higher percentage of the audience. This also allows them to attract advertisers who would increase ITV’s revenue.”

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