Published at 10:20, Friday, 07 March 2008

THE boss of ITV said the company will press on with a plan to axe Border TV’s Lookaround news programme.

Michael Grade

Unveiling a 35 per cent fall in profits for the broadcaster, chief executive Michael Grade said plans to reduce Cumbria and south Scotland regional evening news to a 10-minute ‘opt-out’ in the Tyne Tees show remain 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 will go if the shake-up is okayed by regulator Ofcom.

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

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

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

The decision to axe Lookaround has met with huge local 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 spring 2009.

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk