2nd February 2026 GEOGRAPHICALLY RELEVANT REGIONAL TV IN CUMBRIA IS THREATENED IF OFCOM APPROVE SCOTTISH TELEVISION’S PROPOSED MOTHBALLING OF REGIONAL TV FOR NORTHERN SCOTLAND Dear Readers Regional TV services, specifically the few those that cover rural areas in the North and in Scotland are under threat. Proposed changes for Regional TV broadcastingContinue reading “SCOTTISH TELEVISION CUTTING NORTHERN SCOTLAND REGIONAL TV IS BAD NEWS BOTH FOR NORTHERN SCOTLAND AND CUMBRIA”
Tag Archives: cumbria
A POTENTIAL NORTH WEST ENGLAND DYSTOPIA FOR 2032. AND NORTH WEST BROADCASTERS SAY NOTHING
15th January 2026 Dear Readers Today, there are changes in society- and potential changes- across North West England that neither BBC North West Tonight nor ITV Granada Reports cover, and which even ITV Border Lookaround (which serves most of Cumbria, and is rural-focussed) shies away from broaching: These are macro-scale political, legal and demographic changesContinue reading “A POTENTIAL NORTH WEST ENGLAND DYSTOPIA FOR 2032. AND NORTH WEST BROADCASTERS SAY NOTHING”
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL CUMBRIANS AND LANCASTRIANS
31st December 2025 Dear Readers As one year draws to a close and a New Year 2026 dawns let us hope that this year sees a real change in the offerings of both the BBC and ITV.Plc in terms of Regional News-coverage that is not only geographically-appropriate but also topically-relevant to all viewers whoContinue reading “HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL CUMBRIANS AND LANCASTRIANS”
The BBC Scandal over President Trump- and the Future of NW England Regional TV
11th November 2025 Dear Readers Those who value Regional TV in North West England, and want it improved for the northern two-thirds of North West England will be aware of the scandal which has enveloped the BBC in the last couple of days. It concerns the Panorama programme aired on Monday 28th October 2024 entitledContinue reading “The BBC Scandal over President Trump- and the Future of NW England Regional TV”
NW ENGLISH REGIONAL TV CONTINUES TO SHORT-CHANGE AREAS NORTH OF PRESTON. LOCALS CAN FIGHT BACK
25th September 2025 Having watched BBC North West Tonight the last few nights it is clear that whilst the broadcaster covers Lancashire quite well at times, it often cuts off any mention of Cumbria. When there’s already ITV1 Granada Reports covering Manchester, Liverpool, the Wirral and Cheshire 80%, why do Mancunians, Liverpudlians and Cheshire folkContinue reading “NW ENGLISH REGIONAL TV CONTINUES TO SHORT-CHANGE AREAS NORTH OF PRESTON. LOCALS CAN FIGHT BACK”
NW TV CONTINUES TO SHORT-CHANGE LANCASHIRE, CUMBRIA AND ISLE OF MAN- AND DUPLICATION OF RESOURCES
10th July 2025 NORTH-WEST REGIONAL TV CONTINUES TO SHORT-CHANGE CUMBRIA, LANCASHIRE AND THE ISLE OF MAN. AND THERE’S DUPLICATION OF NEWS-COVERAGE BETWEEN ITV1 GRANADA REPORTS AND BBC1 NORTH WEST TONIGHT, BOTH MAINLY COVERING THE M62 CORRIDOR Dear Readers Viewers of both BBC1 North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada Reports, over a million ofContinue reading “NW TV CONTINUES TO SHORT-CHANGE LANCASHIRE, CUMBRIA AND ISLE OF MAN- AND DUPLICATION OF RESOURCES”
The BBC and ITV Must Direct Extra Resources at Regional TV so that folk in Lancashire and Cumbria get Local News
17th May 2025 Dear Readers This Website, as readers will by now be aware, is committed to the cause of communities north of Preston who would like ready local and wider Regional TV coverage that is appropriate for their needs, rather than merely of folk living along the M62 Corridor. Viewers of Regional TV whoContinue reading “The BBC and ITV Must Direct Extra Resources at Regional TV so that folk in Lancashire and Cumbria get Local News”
Better Regional TV Coverage of northern NW England could foster Local Community Pride and Social Cohesion
6th March 2025 Dear Readers There was an article that I read today in The Daily Telegraph entitled The real reason Britain is doomed to lose the next World War, written by one of their well- known columnists Michael Deacon. A link to this article can be found here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/06/why-britain-is-doomed-to-lose-the-next-world-war/. The article explains that aContinue reading “Better Regional TV Coverage of northern NW England could foster Local Community Pride and Social Cohesion”
Both BBC North West and ITV Granada Reports very Manchester-Merseyside centric again
20th November 2024 Dear Readers I watched BBC1 North West Tonight again this evening, Wednesday 20th November. It is very clear that BBC1 North West Tonight has retreated to it’s South Lancastrian and Merseyside confines again. Indeed, the last few programes have even limited coverage of Lancashire, let alone anything of Cumbria. ITV1 Granada ReportsContinue reading “Both BBC North West and ITV Granada Reports very Manchester-Merseyside centric again”
The BBC Must Provide Appropriate Regional TV News for Cumbrians and North Lancastrians
16th October 2024 Dear Readers The last few days has provided yet another reminder why BBC1 North West Tonight, despite showing more news about Cumbria and Lancashire than ITV1 Granada Reports, remains well- short of a geographically- appropriate Regional TV news-service for communities across the northern half of North West England. Over the last fewContinue reading “The BBC Must Provide Appropriate Regional TV News for Cumbrians and North Lancastrians”
NORTH WEST REGIONAL TV MUST COVER CUMBRIA
15th September 2024 Dear Readers There has been some sporadic coverage of Cumbrian issues on BBC1 North West Tonight, this week there was coverage of The High Court overturning permissions for a new coal mine in West Cumbria. There was also a showing of pictures taken of the fine display of the Northern Lights seenContinue reading “NORTH WEST REGIONAL TV MUST COVER CUMBRIA”
IS GRANADA REPORTS STARTING TO COVER CUMBRIA?
30th June 2024 Dear Readers During the course of the British General Election Campaign, I have seen some of ITV1 Granada Reports‘ coverage. The main ITV1 Regional TV News-service for North West England has been looking at selected constituencies in North West England to see how they might vote on 4th July. Cumbrian Constituencies WhatContinue reading “IS GRANADA REPORTS STARTING TO COVER CUMBRIA?”
PICTURES OF THE LAKES, CUMBRIA FLOODS AND APPLEBY HORSE FAIR NOT BEING COVERED
25th May 2024 Dear Readers The folk living across this large rural area of northern North West England, dealing with wet weather, flooding and the spring lambs weathering it, must have a sense of utter bewilderment at what they see on their “local” TV at times. Why, for BBC1 North West Tonight last night, 24thContinue reading “PICTURES OF THE LAKES, CUMBRIA FLOODS AND APPLEBY HORSE FAIR NOT BEING COVERED”
Viewers of Regional TV in Cumbria and North Lancashire need their own Local News
8th April 2024 Dear Readers The Regional TV News-services and “local” bulletins for North West England have long short-changed viewers who live in the northern half of North West England, by which I mean Cumbria and northern Lancashire. Neither ITV.Plc nor the BBC can be said to provide news that is relevant to this largeContinue reading “Viewers of Regional TV in Cumbria and North Lancashire need their own Local News”
Happy Christmas. The Fight for better North West Regional News Coverage of locations North of Preston Must Go On in 2024.
21st December 2023 Dear Readers Hello. I would like firstly to wish all readers of this website a happy and peaceful Christmas, and all the best for 2024. For viewers north of Preston who may be exasperated with the lack of a geographic-appropriate Public service of Regional TV news- provision, the fight for such aContinue reading “Happy Christmas. The Fight for better North West Regional News Coverage of locations North of Preston Must Go On in 2024.”
North Lancastrians should seriously consider ITV Border Lookaround
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”
NORTH WEST REGIONAL TV NORTH OF THE M62 CORRIDOR AND IN MERSEYSIDE NEEDS A RADICAL OVERHAUL
20th August 2023 (Updated 29th August 2023) Dear Readers Much of BBC1 North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada Reports has been dominated by the coverage of nurse Lucy Letby, who has been convicted of the murder of seven babies in her care at the Neonatal Unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Nurse Lucy LetbyContinue reading “NORTH WEST REGIONAL TV NORTH OF THE M62 CORRIDOR AND IN MERSEYSIDE NEEDS A RADICAL OVERHAUL”
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.”
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?”
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.”
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.”
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”
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”
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?”
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”
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”
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.”
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.”