25th September 2022 Dear Readers Today, I consider the fact that both the BBC in the North West and ITV Granada Reports do not provide great all-round Regional TV News-coverage for locations north of Preston. Neither cover the Isle of Man well either. There does not exist a TV Region that, for a viewer inContinue reading “Getting a good North West Regional TV News-service North of Preston is possible with real Campaigning effort.”
Author Archives: northwestisnorthwest
The Campaign for a Regional TV News-service for Lancashire, Cumbria and the Isle of Man
18th September 2022 Dear Readers The main aims of this Website are to ensure that all viewers of Regional TV who live in Cumbria, Lancashire and the Isle of Man have much more localised and geographic-appropriate Regional TV News-coverage. For viewers in Lancashire and Cumbria that is for a North West England-flavoured Regional TV News-serviceContinue reading “The Campaign for a Regional TV News-service for Lancashire, Cumbria and the Isle of Man”
North West Coverage of Her Majesty’s Death and the local impact.
16th September 2022 Dear Readers This last week has been one of great loss to this nation- and locally. Queen Elizabeth II has been a source of immense pride and stability. The Queen’s selfless service and Christian faith has helped to keep Britain together and provided a sense of security through some enormous social changes.Continue reading “North West Coverage of Her Majesty’s Death and the local impact.”
Across Large Areas of Northern England and Scotland, BBC and ITV Regional TV is unsatisfactory.
8th September 2022 Dear Readers The lack of geographic-appropriate Regional TV, as watch by viewers, affects over six million people living across large swathes of Scotland and northern England, as well as the Isle of Man: It is not just much of northern North West England and the Isle of Man that Regional TV News-Continue reading “Across Large Areas of Northern England and Scotland, BBC and ITV Regional TV is unsatisfactory.”
Eight News Features about Cumbria on ITV Border Lookaround, these not including sports coverage of Carlisle United and Aspatria Bowling Club.
30th August 2022 Dear Readers This evening, viewers of ITV1 Border’s Lookaround were treated to no less than EIGHT proper non-sport news-items about Cumbria, the only other non-sport news-item was about a driver from Newcastleton- just over the Scottish Border about 20 miles north of Carlisle (so not a million miles from other parts ofContinue reading “Eight News Features about Cumbria on ITV Border Lookaround, these not including sports coverage of Carlisle United and Aspatria Bowling Club.”
Four News-Items about Kendal on ITV Border Lookaround. North Lancastrians would get more Local news than from ITV Granada Reports
26th August 2022 Dear Readers As this Website exists to help viewers of Regional TV in northern North West England get more local (and more geographic-appropriate) news-coverage, and to help them in pressurising the mainstream Regional TV News-services serving them provide more geographic-appropriate North West Regional TV, it is appropriate to point out that whilstContinue reading “Four News-Items about Kendal on ITV Border Lookaround. North Lancastrians would get more Local news than from ITV Granada Reports”
ITV Granada Reports seldom Gets North of the M62 Corridor
20th August 2022 Dear Readers A glance through ITV Granada Reports‘ Website (listed here: https://www.itv.com/news/granada), which lists all the news- stories they feature in their programming, and one would be struck by how Greater Manchester/ Merseyside- dominated the news-coverage is, that is, excepting their little Isle of Man section (which if one checks the datesContinue reading “ITV Granada Reports seldom Gets North of the M62 Corridor”
Close to the Lancashire/ Cumbria boundary viewers want Local News about Cumbria and Lancashire.
14th August 2022 Dear Readers Much of the Regional TV News-coverage on BBC North West Tonight and ITV Granada Reports during this last week of hot weather has focussed on strikes affecting rail and bus travel, the trial of former Manchester United footballer Ryan Giggs (who is accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend), and various otherContinue reading “Close to the Lancashire/ Cumbria boundary viewers want Local News about Cumbria and Lancashire.”
ITV Border Lookaround has SIX News Items about Cumbria plus Burton-in-Lonsdale report.
22nd June 2022 Dear Readers If viewers in northern North West England, particularly those who live in the extreme North of Lancashire and in South Cumbria have any doubts about the geographical- appropriateness (or otherwise) of the flagship Regional News programme from ITV Border, namely Lookaround, then tonight ought to dispel such concerns! Not onlyContinue reading “ITV Border Lookaround has SIX News Items about Cumbria plus Burton-in-Lonsdale report.”
If you live on the Cumbria- Lancashire border ITV Border Lookaround provides local news.
20th June 2022 Dear Readers This evening, the flagship ITV1 Regional News programme enjoyed by viewers in most of Cumbria and southern Scotland, namely ITV Border Lookaround covered the tragic deaths of two people who died when the helecopter they were flying crashed in a field near the village of Burton in Lonsdale. This wasContinue reading “If you live on the Cumbria- Lancashire border ITV Border Lookaround provides local news.”
Appleby Horse Fair is back- and much happening there. Not a mention for South Cumbrians stuck with BBC North West and ITV Granada Reports
12th June 2022 Dear Readers As has been fairly typical of what happens with both BBC1 North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada Reports, a Cumbrian news- drought emanates from both the mainstream Regional TV News- broadcasters for North West England- and it lasts for a week or more! In the previous post (here: https://northwestisnorthwest.org/2022/06/03/pictures-of-north-cumbrian-platinum-jubilee-celebrations/) IContinue reading “Appleby Horse Fair is back- and much happening there. Not a mention for South Cumbrians stuck with BBC North West and ITV Granada Reports”
Pictures of North Cumbrian Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
3rd June 2022 Dear Readers True to form, neither BBC1 North West Tonight, nor ITV1 Granada Reports have featured any Cumbrian celebrations of Her Majesty’s 70th anniversary of her succession to the throne. This is despite the fact that 200,000 Cumbrians live in the north of BBC1 North West’s transmission area and at least 100,000Continue reading “Pictures of North Cumbrian Platinum Jubilee Celebrations”
Good Regional TV News for Cumbria and North Lancashire cannot be Left Wholly To The Market- But State Funding is Not The Answer.
8th May 2022 Dear Readers One of the problems afflicting the BBC, thus preventing provision of good quality and local Regional Television in North Lancashire and South Cumbria, is a lack of money for Regional Television. This manifests in large TV Regions that do not provide geographic-appropriate local and Regional news-coverage for rural populations livingContinue reading “Good Regional TV News for Cumbria and North Lancashire cannot be Left Wholly To The Market- But State Funding is Not The Answer.”
North Lancastrians would value Cumbrian News too on BBC1 North West Tonight.
29th April 2022 Dear Readers It cannot be said that viewers in Lancashire are not reasonably well-served by news-coverage about Lancashire on BBC1 North West Tonight. This evening, 29th April 2022, BBC1 North West Tonight provided not just one, not just two but four news-features concerning northern Lancashire. There was coverage of the proposed EdenContinue reading “North Lancastrians would value Cumbrian News too on BBC1 North West Tonight.”
West Cumbria is very much in North West England and this area should Never get North East England Regional TV News.
24th April 2022 Dear Readers Viewers of Regional Television in places like Keswick, Maryport, Workington and St. Bees Head get their BBC1 Regional news from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and they can watch BBC1 Look North (NE/ Cumbria), at least eighty percent of which is about Tyneside, Teesside, Wearside, County Durham, or North Yorkshire. All of these areasContinue reading “West Cumbria is very much in North West England and this area should Never get North East England Regional TV News.”
THE EFFECTIVE RETURN OF THE HISTORICAL COUNTIES OF CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND HAS NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR REGIONAL TV NEWS IN NORTHERN NORTHWEST ENGLAND
20th March 2022 Dear Readers There are changes in how Cumbria will be governed in little over a year’s time that will impact Regional Television in northern North West England- and in a manner that could further reduce the amount of news-coverage that gets north of Preston: Cumbria is about to be split into twoContinue reading “THE EFFECTIVE RETURN OF THE HISTORICAL COUNTIES OF CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND HAS NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR REGIONAL TV NEWS IN NORTHERN NORTHWEST ENGLAND”
Both BBC North West Tonight and ITV Granada Reports are Metropolitan- flavoured in their outlook
14th March 2022 Dear Readers This evening, I wish to touch on something that many viewers of Regional Television who live in North West England , particularly those who live in rural Lancashire or South Cumbria, must observe. It is fairly clear from watching BBC1 North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada Reports that the programingContinue reading “Both BBC North West Tonight and ITV Granada Reports are Metropolitan- flavoured in their outlook”
One of the men who died in the Cumbria M6 crash was from Rochdale
3rd March 2022 Dear Readers The home town and identity of one of the people who died in the crash on the northbound M6, just south of Penrith have come to light. He was a 51 year-old from Rochdale- in Greater Manchester! Even though, traditionally, Rochdalians consider their town to be Lancastrian, as Rochdale wasContinue reading “One of the men who died in the Cumbria M6 crash was from Rochdale”
One fatal Road Traffic Accident on northbound M6 in Cumbria. Not a peep from BBC1 North West or ITV1 Granada Reports
1st March 2022 Dear Readers Yesterday morning, at about 11.15 am there was a fatal collision on the northbound M6 between Junction 39 (Shap turn-off) and Junction 40 (Penrith and North Lakes turn-off): Two people were killed when the car they were travelling in collided with a van, and a third occupant of the carContinue reading “One fatal Road Traffic Accident on northbound M6 in Cumbria. Not a peep from BBC1 North West or ITV1 Granada Reports”
Some Cumbrian and North Lancashire coverage on BBC1 North West Tonight, but this needs to happen every night.
14th February 2022 Dear Readers Roger Johnson was back presenting BBC1 North West Tonight, this evening of Monday 14th February 2022- and he brought with him some news- coverage of Cumbria after what must seem to viewers to be a significant absence! This evening, there was a piece on William Wordsworth, featuring Grasmere and alsoContinue reading “Some Cumbrian and North Lancashire coverage on BBC1 North West Tonight, but this needs to happen every night.”
As a Country In It’s Own Right, the Isle of Man should have it’s own TV News Service.
13th February 2022 The only “Local” and Rgional TV viewers on the Isle of Man get are ITV1 Granada Reports and BBC1 North West Tonight: These Regional TV News- services cover North West England, (mainly the southern half of it, mind) and have news coverage that is 70 to 80% about Greater Manchester, Cheshire andContinue reading “As a Country In It’s Own Right, the Isle of Man should have it’s own TV News Service.”
There are parts of Northern England that receive BBC1 North West Tonight that might be better getting BBC Look North (North East)- and Vice Versa.
10th February 2022 Dear Readers This Website discusses the relevance- or otherwise- of Regional Television as received in northern parts of North West England and on the Isle of Man. This Website campaigns for an improvement on local news- coverage for areas that are often overlooked and which receive Local and Regional Television news thatContinue reading “There are parts of Northern England that receive BBC1 North West Tonight that might be better getting BBC Look North (North East)- and Vice Versa.”
ITV1 Border’s Lookaround provides Lots of Cumbrian News: Northern North West Viewers should watch it.
7th February 2022 Dear Readers This evening, Monday 7th February 2022 I again watched both BBC1 North West Tonight (which again did not cover Cumbria or the Isle of Man at all) and ITV1 News Border’s Lookaround. Of the non- sport news, three news- items concerned South Cumbria, including two separate, extensive pieces about aContinue reading “ITV1 Border’s Lookaround provides Lots of Cumbrian News: Northern North West Viewers should watch it.”
The BBC and ITV in North West England will not improve Regional TV North of Preston without Public Pressure
4th February 2022 Dear Readers This evening, Friday 4th February viewers in northern Lancashire and South Cumbria had precious little “local” news from BBC1 North West Tonight. There was a news- report about the Isle of Man soon being open for business, a rare crumb of joy for Manx viewers who get little news aboutContinue reading “The BBC and ITV in North West England will not improve Regional TV North of Preston without Public Pressure”
BBC1 North West Tonight seem to be Reducing Coverage North of Preston
28th January 2022 Dear Readers Having watched BBC1 North West Tonight this evening, Friday 28th January, it confirms a suspicion that the BBC in North West England are becoming more like ITV1 Granada Reports. There appears to be a new weather- presenter, Simon King, who would appear to have a different slant on where- geographically-Continue reading “BBC1 North West Tonight seem to be Reducing Coverage North of Preston”
Cumbrian Coverage: ITV1 Border’s Lookaround Six out of Ten News Items, BBC North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada – None.
21st January 2022 Dear Readers Sometimes, the ability to watch and compare different Regional Television News- services- and to compare coverage of specific areas of northern North West England helps to clarify things. Indeed, if viewers can do this if they have Internet- and can get adjacent Regional Television News services to the ones whichContinue reading “Cumbrian Coverage: ITV1 Border’s Lookaround Six out of Ten News Items, BBC North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada – None.”
A Loss of Funding for the BBC means Big Regions providing No Local News in Northern North West England
20th January 2022 Dear Readers Upon watching both BBC1 North West Tonight, presented by Annabel Tiffin and ITV1 Granada Reports this evening, 20th January 2022, one was dismayed by the absence of coverage that got anywhere north of the Trough of Bowland (on ITV1 Granada Reports there was nothing north of Clitheroe),- viewers living inContinue reading “A Loss of Funding for the BBC means Big Regions providing No Local News in Northern North West England”
Eight News-Items about Cumbria on ITV1 Border’s Lookaround on Friday 7th January 2022
9th January 2022 Dear Readers On the evening of Friday 7th January there were eight news-items about Cumbria- including two concerning South Cumbria- on ITV1 Border’s flagship evening news-bulletin Lookaround. There were just three news-items covering southern Scotland. This does not include Sports coverage which also had an extensive piece about Carlisle United. Cumbria getsContinue reading “Eight News-Items about Cumbria on ITV1 Border’s Lookaround on Friday 7th January 2022”
Locations in Lancashire as far south as Clitheroe would benefit more from ITV1 News Border’s Lookaround- because Rural Issues Matter there.
8th January 2022 Dear Readers A question: What do small towns and villages like Garstang, Bilsborrow and Waddington in Lancashire have in common with Gretna, Moffat and Langholm in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland? At first glance, probably not much as the former are in North West England and the latter are over the ScottishContinue reading “Locations in Lancashire as far south as Clitheroe would benefit more from ITV1 News Border’s Lookaround- because Rural Issues Matter there.”
New News-Reporter and Weather Presenter standing in- and No Coverage of Cumbria on BBC North West Tonight
7th January 2022 Dear Readers Just two news-items about Lancashire on BBC1 North West Tonight this evening, Friday 7th January. And there was nothing about Cumbria! Mind you, this often happens when the main News- anchor Roger Johnson and Weather-presenter Owain Wyn Evans are away and new metropolitan news-reporters and/ or weather-presenters stand in. TonightContinue reading “New News-Reporter and Weather Presenter standing in- and No Coverage of Cumbria on BBC North West Tonight”
Happy New Year and Good News for North Cumbrian Viewers of Regional Television
3rd January 2022 Dear Readers Firstly, I would like to wish all my regular readers, and others who read the articles on this Website a very happy, prosperous 2022: I hope that this is the year that we achieve a breakthrough for viewers in northern Lancashire, South Cumbria, and the Isle of Man in termsContinue reading “Happy New Year and Good News for North Cumbrian Viewers of Regional Television”
BBC NORTH WEST TONIGHT HAS BETTER SERVED COMMUNITIES IN NORTH LANCASHIRE AND SOUTH CUMBRIA IN RECENT DAYS. BUT THE PROGRAMME NEEDS TO LOOK AFTER ITS MORE NORTHERN VIEWERS WELL PERMANENTLY.
7th December 2021 Dear Readers Happily, BBC1 North West Tonight has been covering Cumbria rather better of late. South Cumbrian viewers of the programme have been treated to extensive coverage of power- cuts across South Cumbria last week. Unfortunately, a number of viewers who were suffering from these power cuts could not watch BBC1 NorthContinue reading “BBC NORTH WEST TONIGHT HAS BETTER SERVED COMMUNITIES IN NORTH LANCASHIRE AND SOUTH CUMBRIA IN RECENT DAYS. BUT THE PROGRAMME NEEDS TO LOOK AFTER ITS MORE NORTHERN VIEWERS WELL PERMANENTLY.”
Both BBC North West Tonight and ITV Granada continue to short- change Viewers North of Preston. Time for Change.
23rd November 2021 Dear Readers It’s been another few days with a marked absence of news-coverage of those parts of North West England north of Preston- both on BBC1 North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada Reports. The only exception was a report about bird flu near Millom, south-west Cumbria on BBC North West Tonight- yesterday.Continue reading “Both BBC North West Tonight and ITV Granada continue to short- change Viewers North of Preston. Time for Change.”
BBC North West Tonight goes High Definition and covers Whitehaven
1st November 2021 Dear Readers BBC1 North West Tonight covered Whitehaven this evening- with regards to the proposed new coal-mine there that now looks set to be in doubt after the Prime Minister Boris Johnson ruled it out: It is good that areas of Cumbria north of the transmission area are being covered for theContinue reading “BBC North West Tonight goes High Definition and covers Whitehaven”
Last night BBC North West Tonight covered Cumbrian floods for a second night
30th October 2021 Dear Readers Last night, and for the second night in a row- BBC1 North West Tonight covered Cumbria extensively with regards to the aftermath of flooding. It was again headline news and- not only that- BBC1 North West Tonight again covered parts of the northern Lake District: The flooding of homes inContinue reading “Last night BBC North West Tonight covered Cumbrian floods for a second night”
At last, both BBC North West and ITV1 Granada Reports cover Cumbria- but neither mention the M6 being shut by a lorry fire in South Cumbria.
28th October 2021 Dear Readers After a week with little coverage of Cumbria on BBC1 North West Tonight or virtually nothing on Cumbria in ITV1 Granada Reports viewers in northern North West England were given a treat on the main North West Regional TV News bulletins: It took some of the heaviest rains for sixContinue reading “At last, both BBC North West and ITV1 Granada Reports cover Cumbria- but neither mention the M6 being shut by a lorry fire in South Cumbria.”
Five News-Items about Cumbria on ITV Border’s Lookaround, Just M62 Corridor on BBC North West and ITV Granada
27th October 2021 Dear Readers Tonight was perhaps the starkest illustration in a long time how no-one living north of Preston can rely on either the two mainstream North West Regional TV News- bulletins for good all- round local news- coverage that is geographic appropriate. For the first time in quite a while, even LancashireContinue reading “Five News-Items about Cumbria on ITV Border’s Lookaround, Just M62 Corridor on BBC North West and ITV Granada”
Places like Millom, Ireleth and Duddon Bridge Should Not be in the ITV Granada Region
24th October 2021 Dear Readers Over the last week the mainstream Regional TV News- services for North West England have reverted to type: There has been precious little coverage of Cumbria on BBC North West Tonight and virtually none on ITV Granada Reports: On both Regional News programmes Greater Manchester and Merseyside have featured veryContinue reading “Places like Millom, Ireleth and Duddon Bridge Should Not be in the ITV Granada Region”
A Cold Bright Autumn Day in the North Cumbrian Pennines.
21st October 2021 Dear Readers Here are some views of a part of Cumbria, which almost certainly never features on either BBC1 North West Tonight or on ITV1 Granada Reports. To be fair, North Cumbrian viewers seldom see this part of Cumbria featured on ITV1 News Border Lookaround or BBC Look North (NE/ Cumbria) either!Continue reading “A Cold Bright Autumn Day in the North Cumbrian Pennines.”
BBC North West Tonight covers the Northern North West of England rather more than ITV Granada Reports
16th October 2021 If you live in Lancashire you should always pick BBC1 North West Tonight over ITV1 Granada Reports if you want geographically- appropriate coverage. On Thursday evening, BBC1 North West Tonight had two news-features about Cumbria- one about raw sewage getting into Lake Windermere and the second about Moorside, next to Sellafield inContinue reading “BBC North West Tonight covers the Northern North West of England rather more than ITV Granada Reports”
The Good Folk of North Lancashire want Cumbrian News more than folk in Carlisle want Newcastle-upon-Tyne News.
10th October 2021 On Friday 27th September 1991, the BBC transferred Carlisle and northern Cumbria from the BBC North West transmission area to the BBC North East transmission area- so that local folk could get the North East England version of BBC1 Look North, rather than BBC North West Tonight, which had been broadcast toContinue reading “The Good Folk of North Lancashire want Cumbrian News more than folk in Carlisle want Newcastle-upon-Tyne News.”
Neither BBC North West Tonight nor ITV1 Granada Reports cover Northern Lancashire well
1st October 2021 Three fairly serious developments have gone unreported across northern Lancashire this week, both on BBC1 North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada Reports. Firstly, there was an attempted murder in Blackpool whereby a young man aged just 19 years-old was attacked and stabbed outside a nightclub by nine men who came from London.Continue reading “Neither BBC North West Tonight nor ITV1 Granada Reports cover Northern Lancashire well”
Much has happened in Cumbria recently- about which North Lancastrians were Not Told from their Default Regional TV.
30th September 2021 Dear Readers To illustrate the lack of news-coverage that North Lancastrians and South Cumbrians stuck with BBC1 North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada Reports actually get about northern North West England here are some recent news- features that would have been of significant interest to viewers, that they nonetheless got to hearContinue reading “Much has happened in Cumbria recently- about which North Lancastrians were Not Told from their Default Regional TV.”
Both mainstream Regional TV News- services for North West England seem to have a Moratorium of Cumbrian coverage- again
14th September 2021 Dear Readers Roughly once a month- for a period from a week to ten days- both BBC1 North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada Reports seem to agree amongst themselves that they will not cover Cumbria in news- output for that period: In other words, it is “Just Lancastria”- meaning the ancient regionContinue reading “Both mainstream Regional TV News- services for North West England seem to have a Moratorium of Cumbrian coverage- again”
Geographical Centres of Gravity and Proportions of Local News with Regional TV with Lancaster’s Localness Onion.
7th September 2021 Dear Readers It is vital that viewers of Regional Television get a news-service that is not just local, but which also covers the most relevant and geographic- appropriate wider Regional News for their communities. To that end the average geographic location of most of the content and the proportion of coverage thatContinue reading “Geographical Centres of Gravity and Proportions of Local News with Regional TV with Lancaster’s Localness Onion.”
A Beautiful Day in North Cumbria
28th August 2021 I went on a trip out with my father on a lovely warm and sunny Bank Holiday Saturday. Here is a the view of a small market- town in North Cumbria that you will never hear about on BBC1 North West Tonight, and you most definitely won’t hear about it on ITV1Continue reading “A Beautiful Day in North Cumbria”
Have ITV Granada Reports News- Programmers become aware of this Website: They are covering Cumbria.
24th August 2021 It’s good to see after all this time, but after seeming to totally ignore the half of North West England that is north of Lancaster for so long ITV1 Granada Reports have started to cover Cumbria. It is a joy to see but two significant pieces on Cumbrian affairs: The first isContinue reading “Have ITV Granada Reports News- Programmers become aware of this Website: They are covering Cumbria.”
Regional TV in Cumbria and North Lancashire by 2050. A Worst Case Scenario
20th August 2021 This is a Website that campaigns for better and more geographic- appropriate Regional Television for Cumbria and northern Lancashire- as well as for the Isle of Man. However, there is every possibility that what viewers in northern parts of North West England and on the Isle of Man will end up withContinue reading “Regional TV in Cumbria and North Lancashire by 2050. A Worst Case Scenario”
Regional TV in the western Yorkshire Dales and north-east Lancashire
15th August 2021 Last week I discussed the situation with regards to viewers of Regional Television who live in easternmost parts of Greater Manchester and East Lancashire (the link to the article is here: https://northwestisnorthwest.org/2021/08/08/east-lancashire-is-another-part-of-north-west-england-not-served-best-by-north-west-regional-tv/). But there is another part of northern North West England that is close to the north-east edge of the transmissionContinue reading “Regional TV in the western Yorkshire Dales and north-east Lancashire”
The Isle of Man needs its own TV News Service
13th August 2021 Viewers of local and Regional Television on the Isle of Man, which is actually a small country in its own right though it is a Crown Dependency of the United Kingdom, get a really raw deal from Television News. They receive ITV1 and BBC1 from the British mainland which provide “Local” andContinue reading “The Isle of Man needs its own TV News Service”