Cumbria County Council's Leader Tim Stoddard has welcomed the news that ITV has confirmed it is planning to retain its flagship regional news programme Lookaround for the Border region.
ITV has revised the regional news proposals it is presenting to Ofcom, which publishes the second stage of its Public Service Broadcast Review in September, so that a 15-minute 'opt-out' Lookaround programme will still be dedicated exclusively to the Border region as part of a main 6pm news programme from Tyne Tees/Border. This is around double the original amount of airtime set aside for the region.
Cllr Stoddard said:
"This is an early indication that Cumbria's calls to save Lookaround have been heard. We have consistently argued that the Border region is unique and the fact that Lookaround is the most popular news programme in the country in terms of audience penetration should guarantee its future.
"We have already seen from the BBC what happens when our region is carved up and the news output is generated from urban centres such as Newcastle and Manchester - Cumbria gets sidelined and forgotten. This is a welcome move from ITV, but we will be looking for guarantees that the service won't dwindle any further over time and the 15 minutes of Border news will be maintained for the long term. We will also be looking for reassurance that news gathering operations in Cumbria will be appropriately staffed so that this large geographical region can be fully covered."
ITV's decision follows a concerted lobbying campaign, which included a visit to ITV's London headquarters from a delegation of council representatives from both sides of the Scottish border and the Bishop of Carlisle. Figures produced by Cumbria County Council earlier this month using the Community Voice Survey of 1,263 Cumbrians showed that 28% regularly watch Lookaround, 52% rate the programme as excellent or good and 82% believe it is important or very important that the Border region has its own regional TV news programme.
Notes
The delegation that visited ITV headquarters on July 4 included representatives from Cumbria County Council, Carlisle City Council, Dumfries & Galloway Council, Alnwick District Council, Copeland Borough Council, South Lakeland District Council and Scottish Borders Council.
ENDS
Please note: Cumbria County Council's media team telephone numbers have now changed.
Media enquiries to Gareth Cosslett, News Manager on 01228 226332