10th October 2023 Dear Readers Tonight I watched BBC1 North West Tonight, ITV1 Granada Reports and ITV1 Border Lookaround. On the strength of tonight’s programming ITV Border’s Lookaround clearly comes out top for folk living north of Preston. Neither BBC1 North West Tonight nor ITV Granada Reports had anything from north of Preston. BBC NorthContinue reading “North Lancastrians should seriously consider ITV Border Lookaround”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
THE LACK OF COVERAGE OF CUMBRIA AND NORTH LANCASHIRE ON REGIONAL TV IS A PROBLEM AS FAR SOUTH AS LYTHAM ST. ANNES- BUT THAT CAN BE CHANGED.
14th August 2023 Dear Readers This evening, I offer a geographic critique around transport links that have a bearing on the general appropriateness of Regional TV News for viewers who live on the Fylde Plain or in the Wyre valley in north-west Lancashire. This has a bearing on the relevance of output from BBC1 NorthContinue reading “THE LACK OF COVERAGE OF CUMBRIA AND NORTH LANCASHIRE ON REGIONAL TV IS A PROBLEM AS FAR SOUTH AS LYTHAM ST. ANNES- BUT THAT CAN BE CHANGED.”
Regional TV Should be Publically-funded but Not from the Government
13th July 2023 Dear Readers Regional TV, when it is localised and relevant to a particular area provides a great function for local viewers: Viewers are informed of new job-opportunities in their area, they are warned about violent criminals on the loose in their community, they are warned of dangerous or unpleasant weather or motorway/Continue reading “Regional TV Should be Publically-funded but Not from the Government”
It’s Time for North Lancastrians and South Cumbrians to Take Control of their Regional TV
4th July 2023 Dear Readers It cannot be much fun for some-one who lives in Millom or in Ulverston to turn on their Regional TV in order to get news about their area and the wider North West of England to only be told about what is happening 100 miles or more to the south.Continue reading “It’s Time for North Lancastrians and South Cumbrians to Take Control of their Regional TV”
ANOTHER PROLONGED CUMBRIA NEWS DROUGHT- AND THE NORTH- WEST’S GYPSIES ARE SNUBBED FOR FOURTH YEAR RUNNING WITH NO COVERAGE OF APPLEBY FAIR.
11th June 2023 Dear Readers Recently, I travelled to a funeral near Birkenhead, following the death of an elderly in-law of my brother. Whilst I was there I caught the Sunday evening news from BBC1 North West Tonight and it was telling. The most northerly news- feature was that of a nine-year-old child hurt atContinue reading “ANOTHER PROLONGED CUMBRIA NEWS DROUGHT- AND THE NORTH- WEST’S GYPSIES ARE SNUBBED FOR FOURTH YEAR RUNNING WITH NO COVERAGE OF APPLEBY FAIR.”
Regional TV that is Geographic and Topically Appropriate for Cumberland, Westmorland and North Lancashire.
22nd May 2023 Dear Readers When a viewer- who lives in Millom, Kirkby Lonsdale or Morecambe switches on their Regional TV, whether it be ITV Granada Reports or BBC1 North West Tonight– they do not just get news mainly about Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region or Cheshire, but they also get news about Euro-vision,Continue reading “Regional TV that is Geographic and Topically Appropriate for Cumberland, Westmorland and North Lancashire.”
Another Week without Cumbrian coverage on BBC NW and ITV Granada Reports, but ITV Border covers Morecambe Bay flooding
25th March 2023 Dear Readers Both BBC1 North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada Reports struggled to get anywhere north of Preston this last week, although BBC1 North West Tonight did mention school-children in Milnthorpe preparing for King Charles III coronation, though the school-children at the Liverpool school still got the lions share of coverage. TheContinue reading “Another Week without Cumbrian coverage on BBC NW and ITV Granada Reports, but ITV Border covers Morecambe Bay flooding”
Snow In North Cumbria
10th March 2023 Dear Readers Here are some pictures that I have taken of the snow near Nenthead, in north-east Cumbria: Yes, Cumbria had snow, not just places along the M62 Corridor, which neither BBC1 North West Tonight or ITV1 Granada Reports seem inclined to report on! Enjoy the stunning scenery in the montage ofContinue reading “Snow In North Cumbria”
Another Cumbria News-drought from NW Regional TV. It Does Not Have To Be Like This.
9th March 2023 Dear Readers Viewers of Regional TV who live in northern North West England, that is those who live and work in communities north of Preston, and who can only get BBC1 North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada Reports, are again suffering from a lack of geographic-appropriate news-coverage, especially of anything important thatContinue reading “Another Cumbria News-drought from NW Regional TV. It Does Not Have To Be Like This.”
Another Moratorium on Cumbrian News from both Mainstream NW England’s Regional TV Providers
17th February 2023 Dear Readers We are into one of those periods- lasting a week or more- during which both BBC1 North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada Reports together seem to draw a red line from east to west across North West England, roughly from Fleetwood to Barnoldswick: It would seem that they agree, betweenContinue reading “Another Moratorium on Cumbrian News from both Mainstream NW England’s Regional TV Providers”
ITV Border Lookaround is a viable alternative for North Lancastrians wanting News Northwards.
16th February 2023 Dear Readers The sad disappearance of Nicola Bulley, who lived in St Michael’s-on-Wyre continues to make headlines on both BBC1 North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada Reports: Rarely has both of the two mainstream Regional TV News- services for North West England provided at least 20% of their air-time to coverage NorthContinue reading “ITV Border Lookaround is a viable alternative for North Lancastrians wanting News Northwards.”
One Big Liverpool-fest on BBC1 North West Tonight, ditto ITV1 Granada Reports.
31st January 2023 Dear Readers A few weeks ago this Website featured an article congratulating BBC1 North West Tonight for showing signs of covering all of North West England, including into northern Cumbria. This article made the point that this would be great if this signified a long- term improvement in news-coverage for locations northwardsContinue reading “One Big Liverpool-fest on BBC1 North West Tonight, ditto ITV1 Granada Reports.”
Two News- features about Cumbria on BBC North West Tonight. As Always, better than ITV Granada Reports.
13th January 2023 (Updated 15th January 2023) Dear Readers This evening, there was another suggestion that BBC1 North West News-programmers might be upping their game in terms of the proportion of coverage they provide North of Preston. This evening’s North West Tonight, presented by the friendly, outgoing Annabel Tiffin, provided two in-depth news-features about Cumbria:Continue reading “Two News- features about Cumbria on BBC North West Tonight. As Always, better than ITV Granada Reports.”
A New Year- and is ITV Granada Reports starting to cover Cumbria again?
11th January 2023 Dear Readers The New Year, 2023 starts with some signs of promise from our Regional TV broadcast media in North West England, with signs that both BBC1 North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada Reports are actually covering all of North West England better. However, one always has to be a bit waryContinue reading “A New Year- and is ITV Granada Reports starting to cover Cumbria again?”
North West Regional TV for Cumbrians and North Lancastrians that Enhances and “Bigs Up” Viewers’ Pride in their Northern-ness
23rd December 2022 (Updated 28th December 2022) Dear Readers One major reason why, over thirty years ago, viewers in North Cumbria objected so vehemently to receiving BBC1 North West Tonight when the then Manchester-based BBC1 Regional TV service was broadcast right up to the Scottish Border was the fact that eighty percent of coverage wasContinue reading “North West Regional TV for Cumbrians and North Lancastrians that Enhances and “Bigs Up” Viewers’ Pride in their Northern-ness”
This Evening, BBC1 North West Tonight covered North West England- Properly.
19th December 2022 Dear Readers This Website campaigns for better and more geographic- appropriate coverage for viewers of Regional TV who live in more northerly parts of North West England, that is in Cumbria and northern Lancashire: It is often the case that both BBC1 North West Tonight and, especially ITV1 Granada Reports struggle toContinue reading “This Evening, BBC1 North West Tonight covered North West England- Properly.”
On the shorter version of ITV1 Border Lookaround on Friday- Most of the News was about locations Within an Hour’s Drive of far North Lancashire.
4th December 2022 Dear Readers Viewers of mainstream North West England Regional TV who reside in communities straddling the Lancashire- Cumbria boundary, who are rather sick of Manchester and Liverpool- centric coverage of BBC1 North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada Reports (a programme which has not really covered Cumbria since the summer!) can take heart.Continue reading “On the shorter version of ITV1 Border Lookaround on Friday- Most of the News was about locations Within an Hour’s Drive of far North Lancashire.”
A Regional TV News-service for Cumbria and Lancashire. If North Lancastrians Really Want It they Can Get It.
23rd November 2022 Dear Readers North Lancastrians- who are disheartened with the miniscule amount of local and Regional TV News- coverage from BBC1 North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada Reports that gets North of Preston should be encouraged by an earlier example of whole communities getting together- to force the hand of the mighty BBC-Continue reading “A Regional TV News-service for Cumbria and Lancashire. If North Lancastrians Really Want It they Can Get It.”
The Isle of Man should have it’s own TV News- service- with Public funding
22nd November 2022 Dear Readers One of my followers from the Isle of Man on my Website showed me the following reply he received upon emailing that the Isle of Man’s Chief Minister (the equivalent of the UK’s Prime Minister)- about Public funding to set up a bespoke Isle of Man TV service: Dear XXXContinue reading “The Isle of Man should have it’s own TV News- service- with Public funding”
The BBC’s We Are England Series: We Are Not Local!
15th November 2022 Dear Readers During the course of this year, 2022, the BBC has set up a Regional programming series called We Are England. Unlike in the past whereby BBC Regional TV documentaries aligned with the BBC transmission Regions that received BBC1 Regional News, for the BBC1 We Are England series the whole ofContinue reading “The BBC’s We Are England Series: We Are Not Local!”
Nine news-features about Cumbria on ITV Border Lookaround- including three about the Cumbrian Pennines
8th November 2022 Dear Readers Cumbrian viewers were given a real treat tonight from ITV1 Border’s Lookaround– nine proper news-items covering different parts of the county. And that does not include coverage of Carlisle United in the Sports coverage. I am certainly happy since the village of Nenthead, near where I live in the NorthContinue reading “Nine news-features about Cumbria on ITV Border Lookaround- including three about the Cumbrian Pennines”
We are Right to Fear Cuts To Regional TV in NW England: The BBC are already doing this and we have BBC Cuts!
3rd November 2022 Dear Readers Previously, this Website postulated a worst-case Scenario for Regional TV in North West England and in North East England by 2050 as a result of ITV.Plc being allowed to dispense with Regional TV News-provision and the BBC amalgamating its BBC1 TV Regions so that just nine exist in Britain (youContinue reading “We are Right to Fear Cuts To Regional TV in NW England: The BBC are already doing this and we have BBC Cuts!”
Regional Television Across Cumbria: Room for Improvement
31st October 2022 Dear Readers Most folk living and working in Cumbria will assuredly be familiar with ITV1 Border’s Regional TV News- service and it’s flagship early- evening news-bulletin Lookaround., currently presented by Amy Lea and Ian Payne (who, incidentally, are also the anchors for ITV1 News Tyne Tees which is the ITV Regional NewsContinue reading “Regional Television Across Cumbria: Room for Improvement”
North Lancastrians: Switching to ITV1 Border Lookaround is a No-brainer!
24th October 2022 Dear Readers This evening, on watching both ITV1 Granada Reports and ITV1 Border’s Lookaround via the respective online websites one sees very clearly how much ITV1 Granada Reports focusses on Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire to the exclusion of Lancashire and South Cumbria. In terms of actual news that was not Sports-Continue reading “North Lancastrians: Switching to ITV1 Border Lookaround is a No-brainer!”
Is There Scope to Cut BBC Local Radio to fund more localised Regional TV in northern North West England?
15th October 2022 Dear Readers In northern North West England local folk can tune in to BBC Local Radio stations. These have been provided by the BBC for over fifty years and they weere set up to provide local news- coverage that viewers could not easy get off Regional Television. In the North West ofContinue reading “Is There Scope to Cut BBC Local Radio to fund more localised Regional TV in northern North West England?”
ITV Granada Reports does not serve its viewers who live North of Preston with Geographic- Appropriate Regional News- coverage
6th October 2022 (Updated 10th October 2023) Dear Readers If the News-feed from the ITV Granada Reports Website is anything to go by it is clear how little of ITV.Plc’s flagship North West Regional TV News- service covers areas north of the M62 Corridor. It would appear that Cumbria has not been covered since August.Continue reading “ITV Granada Reports does not serve its viewers who live North of Preston with Geographic- Appropriate Regional News- coverage”
Getting a good North West Regional TV News-service North of Preston is possible with real Campaigning effort.
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.”
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”