ITV Plans To Cut Regional News Budget

ITV is planning to cut around £40 million from its regional news budget, although it needs to gain approval from Ofcom before it can go ahead with the proposal.

If Ofcom agrees, its West and West Country bulletins will be merged into one, with the same occurring to the Border and Tyne Tees regions, the East and West Midlands, and the Meridian and Thames Valley regions.

The broadcaster would also cut a number of local services, allowing it to save almost half of its £85 million news budget.

In a letter to staff seen by MediaGuardian.co.uk, Michael Jermey, ITV Regions director, said: “The new combined programmes we are proposing today – if approved by Ofcom – will be well resourced, well produced and able to offer viewers high-quality journalism and content that celebrates the life of our regions.

“We appreciate that major change is difficult but if we keep the end goal in mind, to build an affordable network of regional news services, making high quality, well-resourced programmes that viewers want to watch we will be successful.”

Broadcast union Bectu reacted angrily to the news. Bectu supervisory official Sharon Elliott said: “Today’s announcement is another kick in the shins for ITV’s regional news staff who work long and hard to produce good quality output that regional audiences appreciate.

“ITV is clearly trying to bounce Ofcom into accepting its proposals before the regulator’s review has even begun.

“Our experience of Ofcom’s first PSB review was that it was insufficiently critical of ITV’s proposals for regional news at that time. I hope that we don’t see a repeat of Ofcom cast in the mould of the ‘dog that does not bark’,” said Elliott.

Earlier today, ITV chief executive Michael Grade unveiled a five year plan to grow ITV’s business (see ITV Outlines Five Year Plan To Grow Business).

ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com