Delegation meets ITV chief

(Date of issue: Friday 4 July 2008)

The concerns of Carlisle City Council over ITV’s plans to merge Border TV’s flagship news programme, Lookaround, with Tyne Tees were taken straight to ITV’s Director of Regional Programming today (Friday 4 July 2008).

Councillor Mike Mitchelson, Leader of Carlisle City Council and Maggie Mooney, the City Council’s Chief Executive met Michael Jermey, the Director of Regional Programming, as part of a delegation who were in London to lobby against ITV’s proposals for reducing the scale of its local news operation.

The discussions were around issues such as the commercial viability of Border TV, urban needs overshadowing rural needs, diversity of communities and geography of Cumbria, democratic scrutiny of public sector broadcasting, remoteness of the broadcast centre to the community, newsgathering presence in the Border Region, duration of local news segment, its quality and content and also staffing.

Cllr Mitchelson said:

"The meeting was positive and helpful in setting out ITV’s position and there is still work to do. The potential loss of Lookaround is a real kick in the teeth for Carlisle as we would lose a vital news service which provides a major source of up to date and relevant information about the issues affecting our residents. It gives our communities a voice in their own right. There is still a question mark over the timeslot available for Border TV stories but it will be reduced and as a result the coverage could marginalise the more vulnerable members of the community.

"Losing Border TV as a regional media centre is a significant backward step at a time when there is more than £200 million worth of investment in Carlisle’s flood defences, sewage system and transport infrastructure strengthening Carlisle as a regional centre for businesses and investors. Just as important is the likelihood that key events such as the fireshow and Carlisle Christmas City as well as community events would disappear from our screens."

Ofcom is planning to take a more detailed look at ITV’s proposals for regional television, starting in September Carlisle City Council will take this opportunity to raise all its issues with Ofcom as part of its Public Service Broadcasting Review.