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”
Tag Archives: lancashire
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.”
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 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.”
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.”
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”
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.”
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.”
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”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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”
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”
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.”
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”
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”
Better Coverage of northern North West England on North West Tonight
9th August 2021 The return of Roger Johnson, the main News- anchor on BBC North West Tonight from his holidays- plus the end of the Tokyo Olympics (2020) has brought a revival in the extent of coverage north of the M62 Corridor: Barnoldswick in north-east Lancashire and Blackpool were covered, the plight of a youngContinue reading “Better Coverage of northern North West England on North West Tonight”
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”
Neither BBC North West nor ITV Granada have got North of Preston in run-up to Euro-final Week-end!
11th July 2021 Dear Readers I don’t know what it is about the run- up to major national Sporting events (like the Euro 2020 finals)- or when Manchester United or Liverpool Football Club get into the Champions League, but it seems major sporting events involving England or Manchester United/ Liverpool Football Club seems to makeContinue reading “Neither BBC North West nor ITV Granada have got North of Preston in run-up to Euro-final Week-end!”
BBC North West Tonight covers northern North West England better than ITV1 Granada Reports
7th June 2021 Dear Readers This evening BBC1 North West Tonight devoted close to 50% of its coverage to Cumbria, Lancashire and the Isle of Man only, which is has not done for a while. Roger Johnson was- as is normally the case- cheerful and outgoing as the main news- presenter and he engaged withContinue reading “BBC North West Tonight covers northern North West England better than ITV1 Granada Reports”
The Prognosis is Clear, ITV1 Border Covers Cumbria A LOT, ITV1 Granada Does Not Cover Cumbria.
2nd June 2021 Updated 14th June 2021 Dear Readers I again watched the three Regional News services that are watched by viewers in different parts of North West England, that ITV1 Border’s Lookaround, BBC1 North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada Reports: Internet and the BBC I-player and ITV Regional news catch-up does make it possibleContinue reading “The Prognosis is Clear, ITV1 Border Covers Cumbria A LOT, ITV1 Granada Does Not Cover Cumbria.”
Cumbria and North Lancashire Community Television
30th May 2021 Dear Readers Regional Television receives proportionally less funding as a share of Britain’s Gross Domestic Product than it did thirty years ago when the only choices of television were BBC1, BBC2, ITV and Channel 4. Few would deny that the digital age has opened up a wealth of choice of different televisionContinue reading “Cumbria and North Lancashire Community Television”
The Geographical Affiliation of Lancastrians Is More Northerly than BBC North West and ITV Granada Care To Admit
May 2021 Dear Readers This article sheds some light on what preferences that folk in central and northern North West England (i.e., in Lancashire and Cumbria) have in the places that they would like to visit on days out, or even move to, given the choice. It blows the lid off assumptions that “People inContinue reading “The Geographical Affiliation of Lancastrians Is More Northerly than BBC North West and ITV Granada Care To Admit”
Wanted: A North West Regional News- Service that majors on Lancashire and Cumbria
30th April 2021 Updated 26th July 2021 Dear Readers Again, over the last week neither ITV 1 Granada Reports nor BBC 1 North West Tonight have touched on Cumbria. Although BBC North West does cover Lancashire and south Cumbria better than ITV 1 Granada, neither can be said to cover Lancashire and Cumbria well. And,Continue reading “Wanted: A North West Regional News- Service that majors on Lancashire and Cumbria”
BBC NORTHWEST TONIGHT HAD A FIVE- MINUTE REPORT ABOUT WEST CUMBRIA LAST WEEK
22nd February 2021 Dear Readers Last Wednesday (17th February) BBC North West Tonight ran a five- minute report on their main bulletin about the Whitehaven area in West Cumbria in connection with the new coal- mine to be built in the area: Cumbria County Council HAD previously given planning approval for the UK’s first coal-Continue reading “BBC NORTHWEST TONIGHT HAD A FIVE- MINUTE REPORT ABOUT WEST CUMBRIA LAST WEEK”
Both BBC North West and ITV Granada are Just South Lancastria/ Cheshire this weekend
17th January 2021 Dear Readers Sometimes, BBC North West and ITV1 Granada close ranks in a way to provide a harsh reality check for those who live in the North of the transmission areas of both the North West Regional Television transmission regions- i.e. for those who live north of Preston: BBC North West Tonight’sContinue reading “Both BBC North West and ITV Granada are Just South Lancastria/ Cheshire this weekend”
Back to Basics: What Purpose is Regional Television supposed to serve?
10th January 2021 Dear Readers First of all, a Happy new Year to all readers of this Website and viewers of Regional Television, whether you live in Cumbria, Lancashire or the Isle of Man. May this year, 2021, indeed be a much happier and enjoyable one than the year of restrictions, lockdown and fears aboutContinue reading “Back to Basics: What Purpose is Regional Television supposed to serve?”
BBC North West Tonight goes back to being Just Lancastria this Week before Christmas
18th December 2020 Dear Readers, IF EVER the viewers of Regional Television in the northern North West of England and on the Isle of Man at all needed a sharp Reality Check as to how much either ITV1 Granada or BBC North West Tonight covers areas of North West England north of Preston they gotContinue reading “BBC North West Tonight goes back to being Just Lancastria this Week before Christmas”
BBC North West is better than ITV Granada for viewers in South Cumbria and North Lancashire, but there’s still a long way to go.
30th October 2020 Dear Readers, For the second night in a row this week Annabel Tiffin covered a Cumbrian news- feature on BBC North West Tonight. Last night there was a feature on beavers being re-introduced to Cumbria after an absence of 500 years. Tellingly, the reporter covered the scheme to reintroduce beavers at theContinue reading “BBC North West is better than ITV Granada for viewers in South Cumbria and North Lancashire, but there’s still a long way to go.”
If their Twitter Tweets are anything to go by ITV Granada Reports Does Not Cover Cumbria- at all!
14th October 2020 Dear Readers Looking through the last 200 tweets on ITV Granada reports’ Twitter feed is illuminating: Not a single mention of Cumbria, just one concerning Lancaster and just four concerning Blackpool. Yet one Twitter post about Coronavirus concerned the Mayor of Sheffield, another discussed Wales (tourists from Coronavirus hot-spots in England notContinue reading “If their Twitter Tweets are anything to go by ITV Granada Reports Does Not Cover Cumbria- at all!”
Annabel Tiffin on BBC North West Today and Roger Johnson on BBC North West Tonight both covered the North Lakes light plane- crash.
12th October 2020 Dear Readers BBC North West Tonight covered the tragic situation where a pilot died after losing control of his microlight plane crashed in the North Lakes, near Troutbeck and midway between Penrith and Keswick (more can be read on this tragic accident here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-54501995). The fact remains that BBC North West coveredContinue reading “Annabel Tiffin on BBC North West Today and Roger Johnson on BBC North West Tonight both covered the North Lakes light plane- crash.”
Cumbria again not getting any coverage on BBC North West Tonight or ITV Granada Reports
Neither of the flagship Regional News programmes for North West England have produced any real coverage of the county of Cumbria during the last week. This is despite features covering Cumbria on BBC Look North including- today- a young child needing to be rescued from the sea off the coast of West Cumbria. This is,Continue reading “Cumbria again not getting any coverage on BBC North West Tonight or ITV Granada Reports”
From 3rd May 2018: The Maps displayed by BBC NorthWest Tonight and ITV Granada Reports show a Statement of Intent of the areas they cover!
This is an article I posted on a previous site on 3rd May 2018 Dear Readers, Just yesterday BBC North West Tonight showed a map to illustrate where in the North West local council elections were taking place (see here: https://twitter.com/kevfitz21/status/991668859575955456). The map only extended up to include South Lakeland, one of the few placesContinue reading “From 3rd May 2018: The Maps displayed by BBC NorthWest Tonight and ITV Granada Reports show a Statement of Intent of the areas they cover!”
ITV Granada Reports is shocking for any Cumbrians and North Lancastrians who have no alternative Regional News- Not a mention of Cumbria in over a week!
Granada Reports is ITV’s flagship Regional News programme covering North West England and the Isle of Man. For sure the news-reports are undoubtedly popular in Manchester, Liverpool and other conurbations along the River Mersey (where over 60% of the news reported is within a 30-mile radius of such locations) and viewers there warm to LucyContinue reading “ITV Granada Reports is shocking for any Cumbrians and North Lancastrians who have no alternative Regional News- Not a mention of Cumbria in over a week!”
4th September 2020: BBC North West Tonight. Any hopes of further Cumbrian news- coverage quickly dashed!
True to form BBC North West Tonight lets down it’s viewers who live north of Preston after dangling in front of them the prospect of more consistent news- coverage of Cumbria (i.e. something about Cumbria each night). The last three evenings of the week have yielded nothing about Cumbria! At the same time BBC LookContinue reading “4th September 2020: BBC North West Tonight. Any hopes of further Cumbrian news- coverage quickly dashed!”
BBC North West Tonight. Roger Johnson is excelling himself.
The last few days have seen an improvement in the amount of Regional News- coverage given to the northern half of North West England by BBC North West Tonight. Even the Keswick outlook forecast has come back into Owain Evans weather- forecast! This evening, Roger Johnson had a piece on schools re-opening in Blackpool andContinue reading “BBC North West Tonight. Roger Johnson is excelling himself.”
ITV could realise that South Cumbria and Northern Lancashire are not getting much local news from Granada- and shift these areas into ITV Border so that they are better-covered.
ITV is privately run, it’s revenue comes from advertising and some sponsoring of programmes. It also gets some income from ITV Hub- its online advert-free subscription service which it has recently expanded. Viewers pay £3.99 a month to view ITV programmes (including ITV Regional News programmes) online. Being dependent (as it is) on viewers (fromContinue reading “ITV could realise that South Cumbria and Northern Lancashire are not getting much local news from Granada- and shift these areas into ITV Border so that they are better-covered.”
The Northern Half of North West England is sidelined by the BBC and by ITV Granada
The BBC plan to make more cuts to Regional News programming in England- quite despite the fact that people rely on good local news relevant to their communities and favourite haunts. This is despite the fact that, for many rural areas in Northern England, mainly those areas north of cities, get scant mention (and canContinue reading “The Northern Half of North West England is sidelined by the BBC and by ITV Granada”
Roger Johnson and the new weather forecaster on BBC North West Tonight- and no Cumbria!
19th August 2020 , Updated 19th October 2021 The last few days (17th- 19th August 2020) have seen, once more, an absence of coverage of the northern half of North West England on both BBC North West Tonight and ITV Granada Reports. On BBC North West Tonight there have been indications of intent NOT toContinue reading “Roger Johnson and the new weather forecaster on BBC North West Tonight- and no Cumbria!”
Eleanor Morris presented BBC North West Tonight this evening- and finally Cumbria gets covered properly.
Credit where credit is due. Finally, after days without coverage of the county there were three reports about Cumbria in BBC North West Tonight, presented by Eleanor Morris. The swimmer who swam all 13 lakes in the English Lake District was covered, there was a report on the rescue of a little boy who slippedContinue reading “Eleanor Morris presented BBC North West Tonight this evening- and finally Cumbria gets covered properly.”