LANCASTRIANS SHOULD WATCH BBC1 NORTH WEST TONIGHT OVER ITV1 GRANADA REPORTS

28th September 2023 Dear Readers Regular readers on this website will realise that this Website campaigns for better, more localised Regional TV in the northern half of North West England: This website encourages folk who live in Lancashire and South Cumbria to fight for more local Regional TV news with the tools that they have.Continue reading “LANCASTRIANS SHOULD WATCH BBC1 NORTH WEST TONIGHT OVER ITV1 GRANADA REPORTS”

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”

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.”

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”

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 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”

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!”

ITV Granada Reports does not serve its viewers who live North of Preston with Geographic- Appropriate Regional News- coverage

6th October 2022 Dear Readers If the News-feed from the ITV Granada Reports Website is anything to go by it is abundatly clear how little of ITV.Plc’s flagship Regional TV News- service covers areas north of the M62 Corridor. It would appear that Cumbria has not been covered since August, but there was the coverageContinue 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.”

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.”

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.”

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”

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”

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.”

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.”

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”

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 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”

BBC North West Tonight is better than ITV Granada Reports for North Lancastrians

10th August 2021 This evening there were two more news- features about South Cumbria were on BBC North West Tonight– a news-feature about a Kendal-based Indie pop-group and another news- feature about wildlife at Foulney Island- just off the coast near Barrow-in-Furness. There was also a news- feature about the Isle of Man and twoContinue reading “BBC North West Tonight is better than ITV Granada Reports for North Lancastrians”

East Lancashire is another part of North West England not served best by North West Regional TV

8th August 2021 People watch the Regional Television to get news about the region in which they live- as it applies to them- but also folk expect to find out more about the communities in which they live, travel to work and visit. Indeed, at the end of the BBC National News at 6.30 pmContinue reading “East Lancashire is another part of North West England not served best by North West Regional TV”

Viewers of Regional TV in South Cumbria should watch ITV Border’s Lookaround

5th August 2021 Dear Readers If you live in Cumbria, your go-to news-service for Local and Regional Television should be ITV Border’s Lookaround, which almost invariably has 50% of it’s news-coverage devoted to the county. It is, by far the best geographic- appropriate and all round regional and local TV news-service that there is forContinue reading “Viewers of Regional TV in South Cumbria should watch ITV Border’s Lookaround”