i dont know if itv are doing this in your area, but my local news from itv in bristol is changing, we know this because they have been advertising the fact, they plan to merge itv.west/bristol and itv.southwest/plymouth, so we will be getting news items from swindon to falmouth, i havent got anything against the people from falmouth, its just that whats the point of having local news when its not local,

what does anyone else think

Alot of local news stories are just to fill in time, any important news is usualy in the national news and because the national news has a larger budget they are able to report better

Local news is just to fill time between advert breaks and should really be called celibrity gossip.

I totally agree, my area - Manchester (Granada) has been showing Birmingham news! Why do people in Manchester want to know the local news in Birmingham?  I think they should get a general opinion before changing it all!  Its stupid!  Doesnt make sense!  I wonder who is getting Manchester news?????

The reason behind the enlargement of 'Local' news is simple.   This Government, kowtowing to the EC, has split the country into nine regions and it is each of these regions that are now the area of your 'local' news.

ITV are reducing their spend on local programming because they are not getting enough money from local advertisers however ITV should actully be spending more on local programming because if they spend less there would be even less local advertisers.

I think I speek for every one when I say I would more likely watch a programme if it is about an area neer where I live.  As many people in that area would watch it more local business in the region would advertise.

ITV's uneque selling point is ment to be that it is made up of different regions and each region makes some of it's own programmes which are shown exclucivly in that region.  However now most of the programming is national.  STV, which is not owned by ITVplc has recently changed to showing more programmes exclucive to STV ITV region such as South Park, The hour and the five thirty show.  They are and will be how ever no longer able to show some dramas such as The Bill but they would be able to make more money because some programmes are about Scotland where they live (unless you have manually tuned in the channel on sky)

john e:

The reason behind the enlargement of 'Local' news is simple.   This Government, kowtowing to the EC, has split the country into nine regions and it is each of these regions that are now the area of your 'local' news.

Have you any concept of how ridiculous that sounds John? Even you, surely, cannot seriously attempt to chuck up that nonsense as a reason for local news expanding their coverage are. If it wasn't so turgid i would laugh.

john e:

The reason behind the enlargement of 'Local' news is simple.   This Government, kowtowing to the EC, has split the country into nine regions and it is each of these regions that are now the area of your 'local' news.

John - honeslty, have you any concept at all of how ridiculous that sounds? Even you, surely, cannot seriously use that tired old argument to explain why local news companies are expanding their coverage area.

it is so turgid that it is ridiculous, i would laugh if i was not so thoroughly shot through with indifference and incredulity 

 

raging:

john e:

The reason behind the enlargement of 'Local' news is simple.   This Government, kowtowing to the EC, has split the country into nine regions and it is each of these regions that are now the area of your 'local' news.

John - honeslty, have you any concept at all of how ridiculous that sounds? Even you, surely, cannot seriously use that tired old argument to explain why local news companies are expanding their coverage area.

it is so turgid that it is ridiculous, i would laugh if i was not so thoroughly shot through with indifference and incredulity 

Raging, my simplictic friend, do you still believe that TV and News companies are free agents.   The BBC, as we have seen many time of late, is controled by this Government.   The so called 'Independent' companies are looking for money, a cut of the licence fee.   The mergers, not allowed for in the initial rules that set them up, have to be approved by guess who, yes, the Government.   It must be pure coincidencee that their borders closly follw those of the EC inspired Regions.   We are living, very much, in an emerging totaltarion state, or Liberties and Freedoms are slowly being curtailed, our elections now mean nothing, they do not change the people that rule us.   Raging, take off your blinkers and look round.

John - I would take your arguments more seriously if you did not lay the blame for absolutely everything (an I mean everything) at the door of Brown / Nulabour or Europe.

That old record must be getting a bit scratched by now.

Raging, just look at the basic facts.   Scotish, so called, Independence.   It us nothing like it, yo urso called, Parliment and First Minister,(must not call him Prime Minister) are mearly puppets.   It is just a Con to get you to agree to become a Region in the USE rarther than a Country in the UK, and you fell for it.   The Welsh and Irish did the same and Red Ken jumped at the chance, as he saw it, of recreating the GLC that Maggie disbanded.   That was 4 down, 8 to go, but when Nulabour tried it on the English it was thrown out.   It was therefoe, because we are a slave of the EC, imposed, so much for so called Democracy.  

Scotland has always been a region. We hear of items from England and Wales and nothing from Scotland having a Scottiah Parliament and First Minister has made no difference.

 

Aggie2

That is just your view John, with your spin on it because you view everything behind you Blue tinted spectacles. The Island Englander mentality will not profit you.

Raging, we are talking about 'Local news' and trying to define it.   In Scotland Glasgowis not much interested in Edinburgh and the Lowland not to bothered about the Highlands but now it is one REGION and therefor considered by the EC and its 'Quizlings' as your local.   In the South West Salisbury has little to do with Bristol and less with Penzance, but they are all in the same REGION so are lumped together.

Little change for us then, seeing as we have always had Glasgow and Edinburgh lumped into one Scottish region.