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”
Tag Archives: local news
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”
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”
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!”
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!”
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.”
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”
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.”
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”
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”
Cumbrian Coverage: ITV1 Border’s Lookaround Six out of Ten News Items, BBC North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada – None.
21st January 2022 Dear Readers Sometimes, the ability to watch and compare different Regional Television News- services- and to compare coverage of specific areas of northern North West England helps to clarify things. Indeed, if viewers can do this if they have Internet- and can get adjacent Regional Television News services to the ones whichContinue reading “Cumbrian Coverage: ITV1 Border’s Lookaround Six out of Ten News Items, BBC North West Tonight and ITV1 Granada – None.”
A Loss of Funding for the BBC means Big Regions providing No Local News in Northern North West England
20th January 2022 Dear Readers Upon watching both BBC1 North West Tonight, presented by Annabel Tiffin and ITV1 Granada Reports this evening, 20th January 2022, one was dismayed by the absence of coverage that got anywhere north of the Trough of Bowland (on ITV1 Granada Reports there was nothing north of Clitheroe),- viewers living inContinue reading “A Loss of Funding for the BBC means Big Regions providing No Local News in Northern North West England”
Eight News-Items about Cumbria on ITV1 Border’s Lookaround on Friday 7th January 2022
9th January 2022 Dear Readers On the evening of Friday 7th January there were eight news-items about Cumbria- including two concerning South Cumbria- on ITV1 Border’s flagship evening news-bulletin Lookaround. There were just three news-items covering southern Scotland. This does not include Sports coverage which also had an extensive piece about Carlisle United. Cumbria getsContinue reading “Eight News-Items about Cumbria on ITV1 Border’s Lookaround on Friday 7th January 2022”
Locations in Lancashire as far south as Clitheroe would benefit more from ITV1 News Border’s Lookaround- because Rural Issues Matter there.
8th January 2022 Dear Readers A question: What do small towns and villages like Garstang, Bilsborrow and Waddington in Lancashire have in common with Gretna, Moffat and Langholm in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland? At first glance, probably not much as the former are in North West England and the latter are over the ScottishContinue reading “Locations in Lancashire as far south as Clitheroe would benefit more from ITV1 News Border’s Lookaround- because Rural Issues Matter there.”
Happy New Year and Good News for North Cumbrian Viewers of Regional Television
3rd January 2022 Dear Readers Firstly, I would like to wish all my regular readers, and others who read the articles on this Website a very happy, prosperous 2022: I hope that this is the year that we achieve a breakthrough for viewers in northern Lancashire, South Cumbria, and the Isle of Man in termsContinue reading “Happy New Year and Good News for North Cumbrian Viewers of Regional Television”
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”
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.”
Places like Millom, Ireleth and Duddon Bridge Should Not be in the ITV Granada Region
24th October 2021 Dear Readers Over the last week the mainstream Regional TV News- services for North West England have reverted to type: There has been precious little coverage of Cumbria on BBC North West Tonight and virtually none on ITV Granada Reports: On both Regional News programmes Greater Manchester and Merseyside have featured veryContinue reading “Places like Millom, Ireleth and Duddon Bridge Should Not be in the ITV Granada Region”
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”
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”
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”
North Lancastrian Viewers of Regional TV. On 30th July 2021 You Would Have Been Better Watching Look North (NE/ Cumbria) for Local News!
31st July 2021 Updated 13th September 2021 I have just caught up on BBC1 Look North (NE/ Cumbria version) which aired at 6.30.pm on 31st July 2021 across North East England and northern Cumbria. Although they do not usually do this, there were in fact four separate news-items about Cumbria on the programme, two ofContinue reading “North Lancastrian Viewers of Regional TV. On 30th July 2021 You Would Have Been Better Watching Look North (NE/ Cumbria) for Local News!”
BBC North West Tonight News Reporter Steven Saul Goes Native – and Did Not Cover Cumbria.
30th July 2021 This evening was an eye- opener: No coverage of Cumbria on BBC North West Tonight, and that’s despite the News Reporter Steven Saul (he comes from Preston) whom one might appreciate what makes good all-round local news- coverage for his Lancastrian viewers- he comes from Lancashire. The question is, has Steven SaulContinue reading “BBC North West Tonight News Reporter Steven Saul Goes Native – and Did Not Cover Cumbria.”
If you live in Central and Northern Cumbria then ITV1 Border Lookaround should be your Go-To Regional News- Service.
DUSK NEAR MALLERSTANG, JUST SOUTH OF KIRKBY STEPHEN, CUMBRIA. (AUGUST 2020) 18th July 2021 Dear Readers If you live central, northern and West Cumbria- that is everywhere from Kendal northwards to the Scottish Border (but with the small exception of Alston Moor in the extreme east of the county) your default ITV1 Region is ITV1Continue reading “If you live in Central and Northern Cumbria then ITV1 Border Lookaround should be your Go-To Regional News- Service.”
Good Local Television that informs Viewers is a vital Public Service- and it should be treated as such.
15th July 2021 Dear Readers The main reason why the main Regional News- broadcasters- both ITV.Plc and the BBC assert that they cannot provide more localised, relevant Regional Television for areas like northern Lancashire, South Cumbria and the Isle of Man is that they cannot afford it. But is that acceptable in view of theContinue reading “Good Local Television that informs Viewers is a vital Public Service- and it should be treated as such.”
The North Pennines and parts of Cumbria east of the M6 get little coverage from BBC1 Look North (NE/ Cumbria) or even from ITV1 Border’s Lookaround.
4th July 2021 Dear Readers I live in the extreme north-east of Cumbria near the remote village of Nenthead in the North Pennines: The North Pennines and surrounding rural areas covers a really large area and for the purposes of Regional Television News- coverage. It is bounded by the Tyne gap and A69 to theContinue reading “The North Pennines and parts of Cumbria east of the M6 get little coverage from BBC1 Look North (NE/ Cumbria) or even from ITV1 Border’s Lookaround.”