ITV1 super-regions announced

Hi, That should free up some space on astra 2d for ITV1 HD etc. Mark Aberfan Aerials

Mark Aberfan Aerials: ITV1 HD should be starting by May, these changes will take a little longer... Also, the regions might be kept until DSO for advertising purposes.

Hi Brian, Thanks for the info, I hope this move will help bring back some stability to itv1 so they can leave the shame of the rip off phone ins behind them & get back to being a great psb outputting some high quality programming. Mark Aberfan Aerials

Mark Aberfan Aerials: To be frank, I do not really know why they are bothering with this. These regions are so big they have no identity. They should get Peter Fincham to do a copy of The One Show and put that on ITV1 at 6:30pm. What would Ofcom actually do? Take ITV1 off air? The 'Channel 6' idea, of having a 24-hour 'local' channel is probably a better idea, in fact. Let ITV1 be soap and shiny floors if that's what Grade wants.

Hi Brian, i wouldnt care if itv1 was like chan 4 with networked programing & regional advertising, I feel that the bbc does a great job with regional news & even regional programming (satellite city & high hopes spring to mind ) to me regional full psb stuff is more natural for the bbc, whose job it is to provide a service where as its harder for itv to compete with other commercial companies with one hand tied behind its back. I hope that michael grade can get this once great institution back on its feet. one way that itv could strenghten their position & earn some cash without resorting to phone line crap would be to join bbc worldwide to provide a subscription package for expats & english speakers accross europe or even worldwide ITV'S back cat would make bbc prime more attractive. I like the channel 6 idea for local news, wasent their something like that in oxford at one time ? Mark Aberfan Aerials

So Central east and west has been amalgimated with Granarda!

dose that mean the local news will no longer be local?

Glad I watch BBC

Its a step in the right direction by ITV. Shame BBC don't follow suit..

After all with the available space on satellite/cable etc.. they can easily broadcast region news via the Red Button option.

Ian: Yes, that is exactly what it means.

jay: You can already watch all the BBC regions on satellite. Which BBC regions are on satellite? | ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002 - also you can watch all the ITV regions on satellite. Freesat - free satellite | ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002

You've got your facts wrong and jumped to conclusions. ITV have released no statement about merging those regions you've listed. Except Border and Tyne Tees and West and Westcountry. The only merger was the managing directors of each region.

Granada merging with Central? Are you kidding? What have Oxford got in common with Manchester.

Andy: So ITV is going to merge the regions in a different way to the way it has arranged the management of the channels? Oxford has nothing in common with Manchester, that is the point.

It is just administrative (ie managers taking control of a couple of regions). There hasn't been clearance for any actual mergers of regional programming yet although West/Westcountry and Border/Tyne Tees are expected to merge soon.

I'd imagine we'll see non news programmes begin to be shared among a wider number of regions soon.

Ian: ITV have said they are going to merge the regions on these lines... it's already in Michael Grade's plan. I know you don't like it, but it doesn't mean it is not going to happen. See MPs criticise Grade's plan to cut ITV regional news | Media | MediaGuardian

I didn't mean that I am aware that all regions are on sky's platform..

It would make sense to use the same uhf freq across the whole nation, then it would allow upper band 48-68 to be used and allow 100's of channels via terrestial means.

jay: You need at least five frequencies if you have regional versions of multiplexes. And you can't have SFNs (single frequency networks) without many people needing new aerials...

aboustly embrassing no more central news east and west merging gobsmacked Michael Grades idea at itv i dont think the new super regions will work

Lee Penfold: I suspect the whole idea is for them not to work. Then ITV can ditch another pillar of the public service commitments that gets it half of multiplex 2, national coverage on analogue and the prized number 3 slot in the EPG.

I hope ITV will keep the news as local as possible

Cant see people in Bournemouth, Newbury or Southampton wanting to hear London this and London that - as that will be what they hear - The South East area will be full of everything that is London

I'm pleased I'm in Wales - that is staying as it is!

The good days of ITV are long gone when they had regional programmes and presenters (HTV was my local) and was part of the community. Probably the 1970's & 80's I remember was the best era and when they also had some comedy programmes that is one thing that ITV has been short off for a long time.
These days far too much reality programmes and boring so called Celebrities I couldn’t give a **** about them.
(map)

I live in the Central South region and now get Thames Valley news, but still get Central programmes (much to my relief), but I miss Central News. I am able to get ITV London and various BBC variations. Is there a way I could get Central East or West as an extra channel? (I am still in the Central region at the moment. A couple of years ago, when we had Central News South
locally from Abingdon, I was also able to tune in to Central News in Birmingham as well, and I would like to be able to choose again. I have Freeview
and Sky.

Fiona McDonald: If you use Sky or Freesat, you can watch whatever ITV and BBC regions you want. See Freesat - free satellite - all ITV regions | ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002 and Which BBC regions are on satellite? | ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002

well here we go again!the freeview quality is poor now compaired to analogue/satelight, looks like people will be sold down the river by the government again when the analogue goes! as for westcountry,merging with itv west, here it wont make much difference, were 10 mins from the itv plymouth studio, we get itv westcountry news EAST!

simon fox: I think you will find that the reason for digital switchover is to increase the power of the Freeview transmissions. It is a bit unfair to suggest that the current temporary system which was designed to be low power is low powered. You're not going to get WestCountry anything now, you'll get your news from Bristol.

Hi there What will the condition of reception be in the Braintree Hedingham and Halstead area@ My Granddaughter in Braintree can't get anything from Freeview. She has just moved to another house and we were unable to get freeview even though she has a freeview box. When Analogue goes what then. We experience pixalation on the ITV channels most of the time and we live near the Sudbury Transmitter.

It is most annoying. What can we do to get better reception now? (map)

Appalling!

I notice Lew Grade's nephew, Michael, has taken over at ITV. I accept there is competition from other media organisations however in my view there should always be regional television. Regional television that is defined and diverse instead of what it has become - full of cardboard cut outs. I can not tell the difference between Granada Reports and Central News - same set same music. Bob Smithies, Tony Wilson (RIP) even Richard Madeley - come back if you can save us from this catastrophe.

A diverse and group of seperate ITV companies with their own identities (owned by one holding company) is the essence of ITV. Granada from the North, STV from Central Scotland, Anglia, Westward et cetera ensured a sense of belonging to an area.

Of course it was not ideal. Getting rid of the regions is a serious mistake. People will turn to the BBC.

Most people I know are sick to the back teeth of corporate branding and downsizing.

What would the people of Warrington have in common with the people of Warwick if ITV Granada and Central are amalgamated into one unit?

In the past broadcasters reiterated their quality - Granada - World in Action, Prime Suspect, Brideshead Revisited, Coronation Street et cetera and became a byword for quality. Once the brand has gone you cannot rely upon people remembering the past.

Ofcom and the government must stop these amalgamations.

I suspect they will role over.

Paul Welsh: Thank you for your comments. I can't say I disagree with you on this. The promise was that a single ITV would be better, but it doesn't seem to have worked out that way.

Grade wants shooting for these silly plans.

There is now a group on facebook called "Bring Back Regional ITV". There are alsorts of petitions, logos, idents and news and it's all in one place.

I joined last week and I got a message telling me about a local programme on Yorkshire Television called "Happy Birthday YTV", it starts on July 10th at 7.30pm. It should be worth a watch and we may even to get to see some old Yorkshire idents.

Here's the link to the group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19363681454

Emley Moor: You can see old idents here at this excellent site. TVARK | Yorkshire TV

Check this out: http://www.seasideradio.co.uk/node/527There are some serious anoraks out there!

Since Tuesday I've stopped recieving many freeview channels through my thomson box, any ideas? (map)

mealanie, where are you exactly?
Meanwhile have you tried turning machine off at plug, then back on and rescanning?

Redvers Kyle: Hmm....

Melanie: There does seem to be widespread problems with the Thompson boxes. Is yours a Top Up TV one?

this is ridiculous plain daft will just alienate viewers.

Its bad enough getting news from your region if you got moved in the past like when us lincolnshire folk got took out from anglia. All we get is yorkshire news rammed down our throats.

If they ever did show the news it would end up HOUR LONG to get through it.

SO How Exactly will this save money we still need outside broadcasts reporters strategically placed else you get a situation they end up travelling great lengths only find the news event over if not then there is no savings there. The only other savings is anchor newsreaders I hardly think that would save that much.

OFCOM must be idiots to even grant such abomidation idea. I really feel sorry for our anglia friends getting stuffed in yorkshire regional television its the pits.

graham lincolnshire: I suspect the ITV regional news service will now be nothing more than a placeholder to ensure that ITV does not have it's licences to broadcast retracted.

If they simply removed the news and regional news, they would be stripped of the analogue "3" button, Freeview 3, Freesat, Virgin and Sky 103 - and their 45% of multiplex 2.

I totally expect the services to be run down, the fewer viewers the more ITV can say "oh, no one is watching..."

thanks briantist thats the whole worry really if people dont get to regional news then we start becoming ignorant of own backyard looks like in the long run the only local source will come from papers or internet.

Yet we still have hardcore who like to switch on 6pm & 7pm and listen to stories which have more meaningful substance to there community. ITV & OFCOM must realise this matter and OFCOM should refuse this.

I think I would go as far say here in lincolnshire our belmont transmiter should carry Linconshire regional television and focus on lincolnshire news weather and sport.

Likewise with any other county. Still think once ITV does this BBC will easily follow like sheep and the fear will be large areas becoming media blackouts. Television is often a good source for local events to advertise shows. Local charities heartfelt plea's. Local sports get broadcased.

We already seen this from our county standpoint tend to if we are lucky on both beeb and itv get 5 mins mentions once in blue moon. It has too be something really serious or major event. Its not nice prospect for any area. The ultimate impact will be local economy as well as local firms will also lose advertising space becomes premium in there so called super race regions.

I think its been ill thought out and hastily conjured as a solution to there financial problems.

In some ways it evven might be better if they did get stripped from running it if the prospect is run down service.

graham lincolnshire: ITV wants to get rid of the PSB thing by 2012 (when switchover is complete), but doesn't want to be forced from the residual analogue homes, EPG positions 1/103 which it gets by law and 45% of Multiplex 2 (plus 1/3 of the Freeview HD multiplex).

So, it will go though the motions of making regional news for as few regions as possible. Viewers will hate it, and stop watching, giving Michael Grade will say to Ofcom" no one is watching, let us turn them off" and that will be the end of it.

As ITV own multiplex A, they can dump all the shopping and Top-Up TV crap from there and move ITV1, 2, 3, 4 onto that multiplex and not have to pay any more.

Means ITV won't be in quite a few homes after switchover though...

So, ITV want us to watch some news about Swindon, and Swindon want to watch news about Stockport. Not a chance!
If Michael Grade thinks this is a good reason to save money, he has another thing coming. I don't really watch mutch ITV, and you know why? Because it is complete RUBBISH! If the ITV exec really wanted to bring back viewers, then maybe an improvement in the quality on the programming that they are making would do wonders. And if there is a PSB threshold reduction for ITV in 2012, then I am afraid, RIP ITV, but as it is, no-one would miss this if it would happen.
So, BBC it is, at least they still work for the regions, and more so in the future.
Shame ITV cannot do the same. :-(

Offertonhatter: Basically, regional news is expensive, so it is being cut back.

I think that MG hopes that the new, crappier service will shed viewers so they can dump the "requirement" altogether and blame it on Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand.

I joined the "BRING BACK REGIONAL ITV" group on Facebook after finding the link on Emley's post above.
I was expecting a group of anoraks talking about idents, but their serious and their actually doing a great job!
I get updates everytime something at ITV happens are their even talking about protesting!!
There up to over 900 members now, including lots of people from ITV! The NUJ are supporting them and I think we all should too, even if we have to join the dreaded facebook!
Incase you missed it, here's the link again: Bring Back Regional ITV | Facebook
J.

Justin: Thanks for that.