ITN BOSS'S COMMENTS REVEAL DANGER OF ITV'S MERGER PLANS FOR REGIONAL NEWS

11.05.19am GMT Sat 24th May 2008

Local MP Michael Moore has said that the comments by ITN's Managing Director about ITV's plans to abolish some of their regional television news services reveal the danger of ITV's approach.

ITN boss, Robin Elias, said that abolishing regional news would "badly hit" ITN's ability to deliver proper news services to national audiences. Mr Elias highlighted the importance of the 17 current regional news operations in providing resources and stories for ITV's national bulletins, which are produced by ITN. The Head of News and Current Affairs at Channel 4, Dorothy Bryne, has also spoken of the "absolutely vital" role of ITV's regional newsrooms to Channel 4's news operations.

ITV plans to reduce its number of regional news operations from 17 to nine, including the merger of Border ITV with Tyne Tees. These plans are being opposed by Mr Moore and his Scottish Parliament colleagues Jeremy Purvis and Jim Hume.

Mr Moore said:

"These comments add weight to a growing body of evidence pointing towards the danger that ITV's plans pose to the news services on our television screens. Not only will viewers in the Borders see a deterioration in the local news coverage they enjoy if these plans go ahead, but it now looks as though national news could be affected as well.

"I trust that Ofcom will take these comments fully into account when they review ITV's proposals and, following discussions at the Borders Digital Forum, I also hope they will agree to come to the region as part of this review, so they can hear directly from local people about how these plans will affect them."