Some of the key decision makers throughout the ITV Border region have taken their campaign to save ITV Border's Lookaround news programme directly to ITV's headquarters today.
A delegation of council representatives from both sides of the Scottish border were joined by the Bishop of Carlisle for a meeting in London with ITV's regional director Michael Jermey, director of public affairs Nigel Warner, regional director of Tyne Tees and Border Graeme Thompson, and executive director of ITV Border Paddy Merrall.
All parties agreed that the meeting was a constructive one and gave an opportunity to clarify the reasons for ITV's proposed changes and their potential impact on the region.
The meeting coincides with the release of new figures which prove the level of support local people have for Lookaround. Cumbria County Council's Community Voice Survey, which is conducted by post with 1,263 Cumbrians from all over the county, asked several questions about the future of Border.
The results, as outlined below, show the depth of local support for the regional news programme:
Do you watch Border TV's Look Around?
Always - 18%
Regularly - 28%
Occasionally - 20%
Rarely - 9%
Never - 10%
Not applicable - 14%
How would you rate Border TV's Look Around?
Excellent - 20%
Good - 32%
Fair - 17%
Poor - 5%
Very poor - 3%
Not applicable - 23%
How important do you think it is that Cumbria has its own TV news programme?
Very important - 54%
Important - 28%
Neither/nor - 7%
Not very important - 5%
Not important at all - 1%
Not applicable - 5%
The area that a new programme would cover would be similar to that covered by BBC's Look North. Thinking about Look North, do you think that there is enough coverage of Cumbrian stories and issues?
Too much coverage - 0%
About right - 25%
Not enough coverage - 67%
Not applicable - 8%
Tim Stoddard, Leader of Cumbria County Council, said:
"Lookaround is one of the most valued and well-loved of any of ITV's regional news programmes. The depth of support for its local coverage is proved time and time again in both the audience viewing figures and our own surveys of local people. Losing Lookaround would have a major impact on the identity of the region. Today's meeting has helped quantify some of the economic and social effects of the proposed ITV changes and has also been an extremely useful guide to the rationale behind the proposed regulatory changes. We have agreed to meet again with ITV so that we can prepare a fully-informed response once the next stage of Ofcom's consultation begins in September."
ENDS
Please note: Cumbria County Council's media team telephone numbers have now changed.
Media enquiries to Gareth Cosslett, News Manager on 01228 226332
Notes
The picture shows, from left to right:
Peter Stybelski, Chief Executive, Cumbria County Council Cllr Mike Mitchelson, Leader, Carlisle City Council Cllr Peter Duncan, Chairman of Resources, Dumfries & Galloway Council Cllr Sue Bolam, Alnwick District Council Liam Murphy, Chief Executive, Copeland Borough Council Cllr Andy Shine, Deputy Leader, South Lakeland District Council The Right Reverend Graham Dow, Bishop of Carlisle Cllr Tim Stoddard, Leader, Cumbria County Council Maggie Mooney, Chief Executive, Carlisle City Council Douglas Scott, Chief Executive’s Office, Scottish Borders Council Cllr Ron Smith, Vice Convenor of Scottish Borders Council