NRegan

Last updated at 01:00, Thursday, 25 October 2007

THE Battle for ITV Border’s Lookaround news programme is gathering pace, with opposition growing against plans to overhaul local television news in Cumbria.

People from all walks of life – including some of the county’s most influential figures – are objecting to ITV proposals which would see the current Carlisle-based news operation merged with one from Tyne Tees in the North East.

ITV executive chairman Michael Grade has justified the plan, insisting that the network must face up to commercial realities.

But Border journalists fear some parts of their region – Cumbria, south west Scotland, and the Isle of Man – could be cast into a TV news void as bigger stories from cities such as Newcastle and Sunderland take precedence.

The latest high-profile critic of the cost-cutting plan is Lord David Steel, the former leader of the Liberal Party and chief architect of the Liberal Democrats.

A former non-executive director of Border Television, Lord Steel said: “I have already written to Michael Grade and so far received no reply.

“Lookaround has always beaten all other TV stations in Britain of every channel in viewer ratings, which testifies to its effective coverage of events in our region. We want to keep it.”

Opponents of the shake-and up, which will see the number of flagship regional news shows cut from 17 to nine, are lobbying ITV chiefs and broadcast regulator Ofcom with their objections.

Last week most MPs from the Lookaround region had a private meeting with Michael Grade, ITV’s executive chairman, spelling out why the plan to axe the show is flawed.

Workington MP Tony Cunningham said: “From our meeting it became clear that the changes proposed to ITV are entirely to save money.

“I talked to him about the importance of public service broadcasting, I emphasised the importance of Border to our area and the huge role it plays in delivering news for the constituency.

“He in turn talked about saving money for ITV the necessity of which is due to the serious economic difficulties they find themselves in.

“I made the point that ITV would make more money in advertising revenue during the Rugby Union World Cup than it would from savings if this amalgamation went ahead.

“I also suggested that perhaps one solution, which might seem radical, would be to use some of the money from licence fees to go to the public service sector of ITV?

“I feel passionately that we need to do all that we can to save Border TV, which is an institution for many people in West Cumbria.”

Cumbria County Council fears the ultimate loss of Border TV will create an economic fallout that could cost the county £13 million a year.

Adam Powell, spokesman for the National Union of Journalists chapel at Lookaround, said: “Michael Grade may think it’s a good idea but what he is proposing would mean a much poorer service for our viewers.

“Their stories are just not going to get on the television if Cumbria, the Isle of Man and south west Scotland are competing for air time with stories from the North East.”

He said Lookaround staff were planning to take their campaign to save the programme out on to the streets in early November to campaign for the show’s future.

Urban regeneration company West Lakes Renaissance is behind ambitious plans to lure new industry and transform Cumbria’s financial fortunes.

Spokesman Luke Dicicco said: “Border TV’s Lookaround provides a fantastic service that keeps the vast majority of West Cumbria’s residents up to speed with the very latest news issues affecting them.

“From West Lakes Renaissance’s point of view, there are many things happening in West Cumbria that residents need to be aware of, such as the significant regeneration efforts in places such as Whitehaven and Workington and the plans to establish West Cumbria as Britain’s Energy Coast.

“We are worried that replacing Lookaround with programming controlled in the North East will see West Cumbria’s news agenda reduced to a cursory mention.

“We hope Michael Grade will reverse this decision and do the right thing by investing more in Border TV news instead of scaling it down.”

First published at 17:59, Thursday, 24 January 2008
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk