Save ITV News

Meeting Ofcom

2008-10-27T17:13:00.004Z

A whirl of meetings involving Ofcom over the last few days. First at the Federation of Entertainment Unions event at Westminster last week which heard an impassioned plea from actor Tony Robinson about why Public Service Broadcasting matters. Today back to Riverside House to argue again that the regulatory asset of spectrum should be used to indirectly fund regional news and non news programming for the future. Tomorrow to Bristol for a day long summit on the nations and regions and the future of PSB. We're making the points.. let's hope Ofcom is listening..

Dark day for ITV

2008-09-25T14:39:00.005+01:00

When Gordon Brown made his speech to the Labour party faithful this week he gave a list of decisions made by the government which he argued had made life better for people; 'Not by accident, but by our actions' he said. In a few years time if there is no local and regional TV news except on the BBC Ofcom will be forced to reflect that it is not by accident but by their actions, starting today. The release of the next phase of the PSB review is unmitigated bad news for the thousands of people who have written to Ofcom urging them to hold ITV to their public service obligations. Ofcom has wholeheartedly ignored the petitions, the postcards and the politicians and said 'yes' to ITV's wish list of cuts. Today's announcement signals a regulator that has failed in its remit and is intent on presiding over the decline and eventual death of local and regional news on the ITV network. All in all a dismal day for supporters of plurality and quality regional programming. We must not be downcast however. Those who oppose these plans must rally together to help ITV members in their fight against these cuts.

Summer of no love lost

2008-08-20T16:38:00.004+01:00

Its been a torrid summer for ITV regional news employees. A massive response to our postcard and email campaign targeted at Ofcom has been great but to date Ofcom does not appear to be listening. A leak earlier this month, published by the Guardian, suggested the regulator was paying closer attention to bosses at ITV than those who actually watch and appreciate their news programmes around the country. MPs are conveniently still away on their summer break so its largly gone quiet on the PSB Review front - let's hope they can get mobilised again come the Autumn. Meanwhile staff are facing the prospect of ITV pushing ahead with its proposals regardless of Ofcom's verdict. Re-jigged plans released on the back of the leak still save the same amount of money - £35-40 million - from the local and regional news budgets. Viewers and staff are still asking how quality can be maintained at such a cut price rate...

Ofcom looks the other way

2008-06-04T17:29:00.005+01:00

ITV may be 'washing its face' to quote Michael Grade with its proposals over slashing local and regional news, but Ofcom is washing its hands of the affair. While the company continues to make changes which assume they will be given the green light on their proposals to cut local and regional services from 17 to 9, Ofcom is doing precisely nothing about it. Ofcom say they can only be concerned about 'outputs' not 'inputs' while ITV gears up to cut hundreds of jobs and tells its journalists that picking up video cameras is the future. At a meeting with Ofcom today it was confirmed that they will not act to stop ITV carrying on as though their plans have already been agreed. You have to ask, who is in charge in this process? Is it the regulator or is it ITV?

Ofcom PSB responses sign now

2008-05-07T00:01:00.003+01:00

As part of our campaign to save news on itv we launched a website which allows for people to send a model response to the regulator. This can be found here . The NUJ sent the link out to our forty thousand members today. It is hoped the Ofcom postbag will get a bit full.

More support

2008-04-30T14:09:00.001+01:00

Support continues to grow for our fight against the ITV plans.
We've just had the following from the leader of Eastbourne council, who also sits on East Sussex County Council-

I have put a "Notice of Motion" to the Borough Council for consideration when they meet this evening. It reads as follows:

"That Eastbourne Borough Council notes with concern the current proposals to merge the three Meridian news services into one from the start of 2009. The Council believes that in future this will lead to local people being less well informed of local issues. The Council therefore resolves to make representations to Ofcom opposing these plans and urging them to reject the proposals."
I am confident that this will be passed. "

I have also submitted a similar motion to East Sussex County Council for consideration

Across the Border

2008-04-25T18:05:00.002+01:00

An intrepid group from our Save ITV News campaign at Border Television has headed south to London to bring their case direct to Ofcom. The group presented the regulator with thousands of postcards from loyal viewers and supporters who don't want to see their programme 'Lookaround' axed. The team, made up of local reps and MPs from the area, played a DVD to highlight the special place the show holds in the community. They asked Ofcom to take the views of the thousands of people who'd returned postcards into account in deciding whether to agree ITV's proposals which would mean the end of their service. Ofcom were in listening mode - we wait to see whether they act.

ITV unions 1#

2008-04-24T08:07:00.002+01:00

Bharat Patel, NUJ rep at Central talk about the campaign.

ITV smoke and mirrors and freeview

2008-04-04T00:20:00.004+01:00

ITV revised its proposals for re-framing regional news across the country. At first glance, they seem to have take some concerns on board - their emphasis is now on 18 sub-regions rather than the previously heralded 9 region 'solution'. The revised plans demonstrate one or two things; the pressure of the campaign is working, geographical switches show that they do not have a coherent strategy and, they recognise that localness is something that is valued. In a journalists Union it perhaps a occupational hazard to see conspiracies at every turn, but one does get the sense that the shady hand of Ofcom is present. In a related development, Ofcom announced its plans for HD on freeview. We have argued that a key part of delivering sustainable regional news and wider PSB objectives, can be met by use of digital terrestrial spectrum resources. ITV and others can be held to strong PSB commitments because, in return, they are given gifted or discounted preferential access to the freeview platform. Such incentives and obligations enabled ITV to grow and prosper in the analogue age, new remedies can be found in the digital age.

Putting the pressure on

2008-03-29T01:24:00.003Z

NUJ NEC broadcasting rep David Beake wrote to all MP's in the Anglia region seeking support for the campaign. Following our successful lobby of parliament the other day the MP for Colchester, Bob Russell has tabled an early day motion regarding the situation at Anglia (EDM 1255).
That this House pays tribute to the award-winning Anglia Television which from its inception as an independent television company produced programmes of national and international acclaim; notes that in recent years the quantity of programmes produced by Anglia TV has been severely curtailed under the national direction of ITV which has to all intents and purposes reduced regional identity to little more than regional news coverage, sport and current affairs totalling only a few hours a week; is appalled that even this level of regional programming faces further reduction by the abolition of the separate east and west editions of Anglia News which will cut by half the amount of regional news broadcast; and calls on the Government to insist that ITV does not further reduce distinctive regional television coverage in the East of England.
Nice one Bob.

ITV versus Ofcom

2008-03-23T20:36:00.003Z

In the run up to the Public Service Broadcasting review ITV and Ofcom have fallen out. Ofcom defies Ofcom over children's output (Digital Spy) and they have also failed to follow Ofcom instructions over ITV Network arrangements. This doesn't look like the actions of someone wanting to win friends - one wonders what the relatively new Director of Group Corporate Affairs, Mark Gallagher thinks.

ITV's own research goes against them

2008-03-02T11:41:00.002Z

Interesting presentation at ITV Meridian's "awayday" for staff from audience research supremo Terry Watkins. In a very watchable presentation he said viewers want stories which are relevant to them and which affect them. He also said the split news services were working and delivering a product which viewers recognised and valued.
As some said : "We know this. Shouldn't Michael Grade have been listening to this?"

Appeal shocker

2008-02-21T17:56:00.003Z

So BSkyB has decided to appeal against the ruling made over their ownership of a chunk of ITV. Will anyone be remotely suprised by this? I think not. The Competition Appeal Tribunal or CAT will have the pleasure of hearing this one. The question is does the cat have claws or will get into a flap...(sorry...)

Spring has not yet sprung

2008-02-15T17:02:00.003Z

Campaign tactics have been under discussion this week.. Talk has centred on postcards, stunts, and lobbying.. Its all part of planning ahead for when Ofcom announces the first phase of consultation in its PSB review. This is scheduled for the 'Spring' and we wait with bated breath for the publication date which will mark the official transition to this next season. In some parts of town daffodils and crocuses are already appearing in defiance of Ofcom's timetable...

Something's up

2008-02-10T13:42:00.000Z

Spring seems to have come early and so rumours gather pace of an imminent accouncement from the bridge of the ING Titanic about a change of deck chairs.
The crew of SS Meridian have already been invited to take part in 'workshops' about the future shape of the new one service structure, with the rider that :

"These groups will not form part of any formal process of consultation about the published 5-year-plan news proposals. Nor will they replace the discussions that will no doubt follow in due course with union representatives and communication groups - but they will provide an opportunity for you to influence ITV news thinking at an early stage on some of the big issues which need to be considered."

There's also a strong rumour about a meeting this week which might see some senior skippers waved off into the distance clutching cheques.

Interesting times

Stake out

2008-01-31T17:50:00.000Z

A busy week for the campaign and for ITV. First came the ruling on BSkyB's stake which was greeted with warmth by the company. As the NUJ made clear..."If the intention of buying such a large stake in ITV was to neuter the broadcaster and reduce its ability to recover, then the purchase of 17.9% of the stock has been spectacularly successful; although at a cost of approx £250m only those with seriously deep pockets need apply. Today's decision, although limiting BSkyB's involvement in ITV, will not repair the fragile state of the broadcaster. ITV management still intends to make drastic cuts to its local and regional news services. We remind Ofcom that it has the power to put a stop to these disastrous cutbacks and urge it to do so."
..Other news this week: a trip to Ofcom to discuss it's annual plan found not a soul from the crucial PSB Review on the panel. What priority does Ofcom put on this piece of work for the year ahead..? Plus, you might also like to look at this story which has emerged about Border television - interesting developments indeed...

Farewell Purnell

2008-01-24T17:08:00.000Z

To Manchester for a meeting of all the ITV union reps from across the regions. We hear more tales of daring do from Border television's Save ITV News campaign. A council vote on holding a referendum on preserving local news was within a whisker of being won - it was lost because of political fears that the popularity of the cause would up turnout at the next local election, with unwanted consequences for the minority administration. There's now talk of hiring a bus to drive down to London and deliver to Ofcom the thousands of postcards returned by viewers in support of keeping Border alive. We're told the active campaigns at Border and at Westcountry are thorns in the company's side... heartening stuff.
As we are heading home we hear of Peter Hain's resignation and his replacement by Culture secretary James Purnell... Purnell's successor is named as Andy Burnham - what consequences will this shift at the top have for the campaign and the government's unfolding review of public service broadcasting?

London-centric

2008-01-21T13:41:00.001Z

Unhappiness among Save ITV News campaigners over Ofcom's attempts to hear what real people think of their draft plan for the year ahead... Top of Ofcom's list for the next twelve months is whether to back ITV's plans to cut regional news programmes from 17 to 9 - including merging ITV Border and Tyne Tees. Why then, our friends in the north cry, are NONE of the meetings Ofcom has scheduled to debate its plan for the year ahead in regions outside London. Visits to the nations will take place, but for the whole of England there will be just two briefings - both in London. Mysterious references to potential visits to Birmingham and Norwich have vanished without trace...Its no wonder campaigners fear regional news is not safe in Ofcom's hands...

South West TUC pulls out the stops

2008-01-14T17:21:00.000Z

The South West Regional TUC has passed an emergency motion in support of the Save ITV News campaign after being briefed by activists.

Copies of the motion will be sent to MPs, Ofcom and Michael Grade. It reads:

This Regional Council is concerned at ITV's plans to halve its budget for regional and local programming: a move that would merge ITV West in Bristol with ITV Westcountry in Plymouth.

Not only would this have an adverse effect on people's right to know, giving journalists the same time (half an hour) to cover twice as much news, and not only would it provide a regional news service with no relevance to local communities, but it would also see journalists covering a region in which it takes longer to drive from one end to the other than it does from London to Carlisle.

This Regional Council also notes that as a Public Service Broadcaster, ITV is given its right to broadcast by Act of Parliament. In return it is required to fulfil special obligations. If ITV's proposals go ahead, these commitments will not be met. "

At the meeting on Saturday the council resolved to write to South West MPs and Ofcom to express concern and urge them to support the NUJ's campaign. The council also agreed to write to Michael Grade asking him to stop the cuts.

We warmly welcome the support of the regional TUC and thank them for their efforts. We would also ask other regional councils to follow in their footsteps and debate the demolition of ITV local and regional news before its too late.

Book now!

2008-01-09T17:15:00.000Z

Ofcom is reaching out to one and all by organising a series of meetings on its draft plan for this year and next. Obviously on its agenda for the next few months is the Public Service Broadcasting review and ITV's plans for local and regional news. It would be churlish to refuse this opportunity to get your voice heard on these key issues. Have you booked your place yet? If not click here ...

Happy New Year

2008-01-03T12:03:00.000Z

Our campaign to Save ITV News must take centre stage in 2008. With Ofcom set to hold a series of roadshows as part of its Public Service Broadcasting review it's time to let the regulator hear the message that regional news is too important to lose. As the New Year dawns the campaign is gracing the front page of the new NUJ website. Let's keep it in the headlines as we enter a critical phase in our fight. Happy New Year.

keeping an eye on things

2007-12-13T00:07:00.000Z

In a valiant effort to kill yet more trees or punch a whole in the ozone layer, Ofcom put out another plethora of documents today. Amongst others, they have announced plans for a series of roadshows next year as they take their annual plan for 2008/9 on tour. This will provide opportunities for interested parties to let them know what we think of the threatened retreat from news provision on ITV. I got this from OfcomWatch - a blog which says what it does on the tin. Its author(s) tend to promote a free-market approach to regulation, but their are some interesting posts along the way.

border leads the way

2007-12-02T20:56:00.000Z

MP's, staff and the County Council at Border have created an unlikely coalition who will meet with Ofcom in the new year. In order to achieve a re-think, strong action will be necessary. It's not just Border, lots of regions have gathered real support. We will be co-ordinating lobbying activities in the new year in order to bring about the pressure needed to amend these damaging proposals.

self-fulfilling prophesy

2007-11-28T19:39:00.000Z

So Grade says public dissatisfaction with ITV local news is 'inevitable'. The future is ulrta-local with rich content provided by specialists in the field. It doesn't matter that there will be no newsrooms within the locality. Viewers are flocking to ITV.com where professional content is waiting for them to enjoy. This is pure fantasy and reminds one of the ITV On Digital fiasco. As a statement of ITV's ambition, it will impress no-one. The ITV online strategy leaves much to be desired. In economic terms, the city have been promised a ten-fold increase in revenues how? no answer. When many companies, MSM or not, are struggling to make money out of the web, ITV's record is poor, friends re-united anyone? What about this rich content? Well at the moment ITV local has good material, how do we know this? Because it is made by the people that ITV wants to sack. ITN have secured the ITV contact - though after a year the contract is still unsigned. Could it be because ITN were promised access to all of ITV's local newsgathering operation, if that is cut in half how can ITN expect to cover the Nations,? They certainly don't have the resources to do it without ITV. Some more positive news sees an alliance between the three main PSB's to provide content on the web. The story taught me a new word: 'Frenemy'.

MP latest

2007-11-20T16:11:00.000Z

Newsflash! More than 150 MPs now back campaign to Save ITV News. Letters have been flying back and forth between the ITV regions, MPs and the NUJ head office asking the parliamentarians to back our campaign. So far 161 MPS have said they do, with many offering help and support and writing to Ofcom and the DCMS on our behalf. Click here to see the google map which plots those who back the campaign.

Another pic

2007-11-12T17:38:00.001Z

Another pic from the grand day out that was the NUJ's Nov 5th Day of Action. For the full photo extravaganza see here ...

Standing together

2007-11-06T10:51:00.000Z

Around fifty people encircled the ITV truck in Plymouth city centre as part of the Nov 5th Day of Action. Linda Gilroy MP (Lab, Plymouth Sutton) pledged support and took a sheet of stickers to put on her HoC colleagues. There was good coverage in all the local press and the
BBC's Spotlight TV news ran a good length piece plus there was a package on ITV's own programme. Everyone there was heartened by the very strong affection people have for their local news services. You can read the Western Morning News coverage here.

Nov 5th is looming

2007-11-01T17:33:00.000Z

Nov 5th is set to go with a bang across the ITV regions. Top secret plans involving banners, and the famous Gus Honeybun are being feverishly worked on. Watch out for the pics here next week....

Questions in the House

2007-10-30T15:16:00.000Z

Events yesterday conspired to see the irrepressible Austin Mitchell leap out of the hat in the lottery to ask questions of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport James Purnell. Other MPs got stuck in too - read the full report here. Purnell, one of the prime architects of Ofcom, confirmed that 'This House made it very clear through the Communications Act 2003 that it expected regional television to be right at the heart of what ITV does... '
ITV and Ofcom should heed the advice given by Mr Purnell to 'take into account the strong feelings expressed about (the plans) in this House.'

Meet the Minister

2007-10-24T23:58:00.000+01:00

No photos allowed at Portcullis house in Westminster so you'll have to trust we were there this afternoon. The NUJ's parliamentary group had arranged a meeting with interested MPs and the secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport James Purnell. We met and put the case for ITV local and regional news - including our ideas around future funding mechanisms. The minister agreed that nothing which comes out of the Ofcom reviews in the next year will pre-empt the bigger picture on the future of public service broadcasting. He also gave us the heartfelt assurance that he's a strong supporter of PSB and that he believes its of central cultural importance to Britain. We told him that once it's gone it's gone and turning the clock back will be very tough.

Deloitte report

2007-10-18T17:45:00.001+01:00

A good day to bury bad news for ITV with the publication of the long-awaited Deloitte report. Serious editorial issues with premium-rate phone and interactive services have been highlighted and viewers are out of pocket to the tune of almost 8 million pounds. More than 60 ITV series were reviewed with several high profile shows including Ant and Dec's Gameshow Marathon in 2005 targeted for criticism. ITV says no one will lost their job as a result of the findings - which should be welcomed. It remains to be seen whether Ofcom wants to take the things further with additional fines, once it's read the report...

No to Plan A

2007-10-15T15:48:00.000+01:00

Reps from across the ITV news regions turned out in force for a meeting with the news group management this morning. Extra chairs had to be rustled up at short notice. Reps put their opposition to the plans on a number of fronts - including recording news opts, and how local sports coverage would be affected. We asked for a wider meeting with ITV plc to put forward alternative plans on the future funding of regional news. Read them here. We hope the company will engage with us on a plan B...

Political blogs against ITV cuts

2007-10-15T14:38:00.000+01:00

Iain Dale, the most widely read of the political bloggers, has highlighted the growing support amongst MPs against the cuts opening with:-
"It seems to be completely mad that ITV wish to cut their regions from 12 to 9."

More details at his website : http://iaindale.blogspot.com/

EDM encore

2007-10-12T14:22:00.000+01:00

EDMs are tumbling around thick and fast now that MPs are back to work. A national one launched yesterday can be seen here. 45 signatures so far - you might like to ask your MP to sign. There is also a Border motion listed here. One for Meridian is already up and running (see blog entry below). I'm sure EDM's for other regions can't be far behind.

MPs in the South against ITV plans

2007-10-10T17:15:00.000+01:00

The following has been tabled in parliament:-

REDUCTIONS IN LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE BY MERIDIAN 9:10:07
Norman Baker
Mr Michael Moore
Paul Clark
Michael Jabez Foster
Miss Ann Widdecombe
Peter Bottomley
* 12
Sandra Gidley David Lepper Tim Loughton
Bob Russell Dr Evan Harris Mark Durkan
That this House notes with grave concern the plans put forward by ITV to reduce its number of regional newsrooms from 17 to 9; further notes with particular concern its proposal to merge the three current Meridian regional news programmes; believes this would lead to the loss of a dedicated service for Sussex and Kent and radically reduce the provision of local information to viewers in the South East; further believes that such a merger would equate to a neglect of public service broadcasting commitments by ITV and would presage the end of local output on the channel; and calls upon the Government to press Ofcom to refuse its approval for the merger.

Anglia visit

2007-10-10T15:27:00.001+01:00

Raining cats and dogs in Norwich during my trip to Anglia TV to see how the campaign is going here. The team is doing good stuff - a venue is booked out for the Nov 5th day of action and local MPs are expected. The chapel have got shareholders in their sights over ITV's plans - namely themselves... Most have always politely declined their invitation to the annual shareholders meeting. Perhaps not next time...

The week ahead

2007-10-08T18:05:00.000+01:00

The start of a busy week in the campaign to Save ITV News. No election which means MPs getting back down to the work of supporting their constituents and defending local journalism. Trips to Anglia and Yorkshire are on the horizon to hear how things are going in the campaign there. Meanwhile a delegation of MPs from Border is heading to London next week to meet Michael Grade and let him know their views on the disappearance of Lookaround. And there's the possibility of local newspaper campaign to save the programme. Surely papers in other areas will want to leap on this bandwagon...

Yesterday's news tomorrow

2007-10-04T11:48:00.000+01:00

As more details of the plans filter out the madder they seem to be. Those regions which will disappear into 'opts' are now discovering that the idea seems to be to pre-record these. Presumably they will be asking police to ensure that no-one is charged between five and six pm if we're reporting major cases, and of course juries will stop that endearing habit of bringing verdicts back at 4.30pm.
Have the lunatics taken over the asylum? Certainly seems that way.

Ofcom

2007-10-03T23:14:00.000+01:00

Ofcom is receiving criticism for its handling of the funding issues around children's television. Many are claiming that they got it wrong in reacting to concerns over childhood obesity by a case of old style intervention. Without dealing with whether this action was right for the nations crisp and chocolate addicts, it is odd that on one of the few occasions where the regulator has taken a firm hand, it has had a significant negative economic impact on the independent broadcasters they are under a duty to promote. Now they are discussing the NUJ idea (floated three years ago) of a PSB levy, providing cash for original programming. It needs to agree with us though that the most appropriate way to deal with these issues is to allow digital spectrum to be the key to unlock the funding issues around public service broadcasting.

On the road

2007-10-03T10:39:00.001+01:00

Criss-crossing the country I'm impressed with the level of commitment and enthusiasm displayed by ITV chapels. The campaign is most definitely on, with members vying to come up with the wackiest ways of promoting their cause - pasties anyone? Heading to Bristol tonight to hear how things are going at ITV West. With the scent of an election in the air now is the time to be lobbying hard and rallying MPs to the cause.

A rush of MPs

2007-09-28T23:34:00.000+01:00

The campaign is gathering momentum. Laura is haring round the country having chapel meetings with members. Today we have collected another 16 MPs who support the cause. Eight from the Anglia region and the entire compliment of MPs in the Border region.

ITV's turnaround plan - a U-turn to disaster

2007-09-26T22:16:00.000+01:00

The NUJ and colleagues from other Unions met ITV plc this morning to discuss national issues. Top of the agenda for the NUJ was the damaging proposals to abandon commitments to local news on ITV. Senior executives held the party line. No-none wants to be disloyal to the current leadership. Despite the fact that they all followed a different mantra a matter of months before. Tonight, ITV is hosting a jolly at the labour party conference. Given the support we have had from across all parties since these plans were announced, I suspect it will not be an entirely happy event for ITV.

Less news but more Ads for ITV ?

2007-09-24T17:07:00.000+01:00

Interesting news in Saturday's Times (Sept 22) which says Ofcom is set to fall in line with the rest of the EU and allow ITV to broadcast 9 minutes of ads per hour compared to the current 7 - that's a 28.5% increase (their maths not mine). Now wasn't the argument being made by some senior ITV figures only recently that if there was more advertising then they would use some of it to pay for the regional news service? That's the very same regional news service which, we were told, made us distinctive from the other 300 odd channels. Here in the sunny South East we've been heartened by support from MPs of all parties, one of whom is putting down an EDM when parliament goes back. We've also done the rounds of local papers making our case and were encouraged to get this from one of our viewers:- "I had no idea until I saw your letter that plans were proposed to change the Meridian Tonight programmes - there must be someone in ITV who sits and plans out who they can upset next! I am enclosing copies of my email to PSBReview and to our local MP, David Lepper. Thank you for bringing this stupid idea to my attention - I hope we win". In addition we've enlisted the help of a friendly PR agency who are contacting all local business leaders, and we're making sure all reporters canvass MPs whenever they come across them in the day job. If there is a General Election soon it may be worth getting all regional journalists in ITV to point out this will be the last time they get such extensive coverage. 'We're not going without a fight'

e-petition gets more than 500 in

2007-09-22T15:00:00.000+01:00

I'm not normally a fan of petitions, however they can be great to use in campaigns. The save itv news petition at the No. 10 Downing Street site has amassed 585 signatures in three days which is remarkable as it had not been widely publicised.

NUJ campaign to save itv news

2007-09-21T21:53:00.000+01:00

It was on September 12th that the news of ITV's planned retreat from Public Service Television was announced. The plan would be devastating for NUJ members and the public, involving, as it does the complete abandonment of local news on the channel and its replacement with a regional service which has no connection with viewers . We have set this blog up for all who care about their news on ITV.