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!”
Tag Archives: 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.”
ITV Border’s Lookaround covers Cumbria very well, occasionally touches on Lancashire issues. ITV1 Granada- Beware!
12th June 2021 Dear Readers NOT for the first time during the Coronavirus pandemic has ITV1 Border’s flagship Regional News programme Lookaround– which is broadcast to most of Cumbria and to southern Scotland- touched upon developments with regard to rising Covid-19 cases in Lancashire and Greater Manchester in order to warn their loyal Cumbrian viewersContinue reading “ITV Border’s Lookaround covers Cumbria very well, occasionally touches on Lancashire issues. ITV1 Granada- Beware!”
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.”
North Lancashire is in the Wrong ITV Region
Dear Readers Watching ITV1 Granada Reports this evening was an eye- opener. Most of the “News” coverage was dedicated to Manchester City’s up-coming Champions League match in Porto, Portugal: ITV1 Granada even went out of the way to send a reporter there! Amongst the other coverage was the footballer Marcus Rashford chatting to former USContinue reading “North Lancashire is in the Wrong ITV Region”
Travel Times from North Lancashire Call Into Question whether ITV1 Granada Reports is Best for North Lancashire
LANCASTER CASTLE: FROM LANCASTER NORTHERN CUMBRIA IS QUICKER TO GET TO AND MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN THE BIG CITIES OF MANCHESTER AND LIVERPOOL. THIS CALLS INTO QUESTION WHETHER NORTH WEST REGIONAL NEWS SERVICES ARE LOCALLY APPROPRIATE. Courtesy of Northern_Punkie (Pixabay) 22nd May 2021 Dear Readers The ITV and BBC Regions approaching those that exist today wereContinue reading “Travel Times from North Lancashire Call Into Question whether ITV1 Granada Reports is Best for North Lancashire”
Cumbrian Viewers of BBC North West Tonight Should have been Made Proud of a Local Hero.
21st May 2021 This evening, there was a marathon- runner called Gary McKee who ran a 26.2 mile circuit near his home in Cleator Moor, West Cumbria. He did this every day for 110 successive days to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and the local Hospice at Home West Cumbria. He ended up raisingContinue reading “Cumbrian Viewers of BBC North West Tonight Should have been Made Proud of a Local Hero.”
Viewers of Regional Television in South Cumbria Don’t Get the Cumbria- focussed Regional News
May 2021 Dear Readers If you live on the Furness Peninsula, just south and south-west of Kendal or near the Duddon estuary you have a choice of two main Regional Television News- services. One of them is BBC1 North West Tonight and the other is ITV1 Granada Reports. Neither serve these areas of South CumbriaContinue reading “Viewers of Regional Television in South Cumbria Don’t Get the Cumbria- focussed Regional News”
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”
Two news- features about Cumbria on BBC North West Tonight.
13th November 2020 Dear Readers There were TWO news-features about Cumbria on BBC North West Tonight with the outgoing Roger Johnson presenting the programme this evening. The first was a news-item about County Lines drug gangs flooding the streets of Barrow-in-Furness with cocaine and heroin. The second news-feature was about wetlands at a place calledContinue reading “Two news- features about Cumbria on BBC North West Tonight.”
Neither BBC North West Tonight nor ITV Granada have touched Cumbria the last few days. There is a need for Pressure to be Brought to Bear on the North West Television broadcasters.
10th November 2020 Up-dated 16th September 2021 after Government Cabinet re-shuffle Dear Readers BBC North West Tonight is once more having one of it’s “Non-Cumbrian weeks” and ITV Granada has not covered Cumbria for a fortnight. The Isle of Man has also had no coverage and it has all been about Manchester and Liverpool, CheshireContinue reading “Neither BBC North West Tonight nor ITV Granada have touched Cumbria the last few days. There is a need for Pressure to be Brought to Bear on the North West Television broadcasters.”
South Cumbrian and Manx Viewers have a Strategy to Put Pressure on ITV1 Granada and BBC North West to “Up Their Game” for the Northern North West and Isle of Man- or Else!
6th November 2020 Dear Readers, This first week in November was a week that BBC North West Tonight has reverted to Not Covering Cumbria- the only time the county has been mentioned is in Owain Wyn Evans’ Weather-forecast! ITV1 Granada Reports haven’t covered Cumbria either. If ever there was a week to illustrate how poorlyContinue reading “South Cumbrian and Manx Viewers have a Strategy to Put Pressure on ITV1 Granada and BBC North West to “Up Their Game” for the Northern North West and Isle of Man- or Else!”
If ITV Border’s future is ever threatened by ITV trying to save money after the Covid-19 Recession, this Website will Fight to Protect ITV Border.
2nd November 2020 Dear Readers This coming week sees all of England destined to return to Lockdown conditions for four more weeks as the British Government seeks to stop Coronavirus cases increasing rapidly resulting in potentially thousands of deaths. Whatever the merits of locking the country down again, there will be a major impact onContinue reading “If ITV Border’s future is ever threatened by ITV trying to save money after the Covid-19 Recession, this Website will Fight to Protect ITV Border.”
25th Sept. 2020: My E-mail to ITV Granada Reports about their absence of Cumbrian coverage
Dear Readers One of North West England’s flagship Regional News programmes, ITV Granada Reports has not covered anything from Cumbria in three weeks. I have decided to put keyboard to email because this is shocking for folk who live in more northerly parts of North West England- since they are not really getting any localContinue reading “25th Sept. 2020: My E-mail to ITV Granada Reports about their absence of Cumbrian coverage”
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”
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!”
ITV BORDER COULD BE THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF POOR LOCAL NEWS- COVERAGE IN THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE RESPECTIVE NORTH-WEST AND NORTH-EAST REGIONS.
There are good reasons why both North Lancashire and Northumberland should be transferred to ITV Border. These rural areas of the northern North West and North East England would get better coverage.
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!”
This week Northumberland has been short-changed on BBC Look North (North East/ Cumbria) and ITV Tyne Tees.
With the exception of a report about swimmers getting into difficulty on the Northumberland coast and needing to be rescued by Seahouses RNLI (reported on on ITV Tyne Tees) the county has had negligible coverage throughout the week. Both BBC Look North (North East/ Cumbria) and ITV Tyne Tees covered North Yorkshire fairly extensively thisContinue reading “This week Northumberland has been short-changed on BBC Look North (North East/ Cumbria) and ITV Tyne Tees.”
A Letter to the Secretary of State for Digital Culture Media and Sport.
1st August 2020 Updated 19th October 2021 I have penned a letter to the the Secretary of State for Digital Culture Media and Sport- for the time has come to act and say something on behalf of 200,000 viewers in Cumbria who often don’t get coverage of their county for a week or more onContinue reading “A Letter to the Secretary of State for Digital Culture Media and Sport.”
Both BBC North West Tonight and BBC Look North (North East/ Cumbria) seem to Neglect their Northern Ends!
Both BBC North West Tonight and BBC Look North (North East/ Cumbria) failed viewers in the northern halves of their respective transmission areas this evening (27th July), even though the news- presenters (Annabel Tiffin on BBC North West Tonight, Carol Malia on BBC Look North) have a good rapport with their respective audiences. BBC LookContinue reading “Both BBC North West Tonight and BBC Look North (North East/ Cumbria) seem to Neglect their Northern Ends!”
BBC Look North (North East/ Cumbria) does need to cover rural Northumberland better- and overlap into the Scottish Borders.
This Website highlights the shortage of regional news- coverage of northern parts of North East England on BBC Look North (North East/ Cumbria) as well as the shortage of coverage of Cumbria on BBC North West Tonight and ITV Granada. Carol Malia’s bulletin this evening (22nd July) is a case in point, although rural NorthumberlandContinue reading “BBC Look North (North East/ Cumbria) does need to cover rural Northumberland better- and overlap into the Scottish Borders.”
21st July 2020: Much better coverage of Cumbria and Lancashire on BBC North West Tonight. Two news- items about Carlisle on ITV Granada’s Twitter feed!
This week sees a big improvement in Regional news- coverage for the northern two- thirds of North West England. Now, I don’t know whether some of the programme- producers are now aware of this Website, but today in particular there were two items of coverage concerning Cumbria and five news- items concerning Lancashire on BBCContinue reading “21st July 2020: Much better coverage of Cumbria and Lancashire on BBC North West Tonight. Two news- items about Carlisle on ITV Granada’s Twitter feed!”
South Cumbria is Definitely in North West England. There should Never Be a situation where BBC North West covers NOTHING from Cumbria for Six Days- but BBC North East covers two South Cumbrian news items (plus a further two Cumbrian items) over a weekend!
This weekend -of 18th/ 19th July 2020 illustrates something very amiss with BBC Regional Television in the North West and North East of England: It is that Cumbria has not been covered at all all weekend on BBC (and nothing about Cumbria has been covered for six days) whilst BBC Look North (North East andContinue reading “South Cumbria is Definitely in North West England. There should Never Be a situation where BBC North West covers NOTHING from Cumbria for Six Days- but BBC North East covers two South Cumbrian news items (plus a further two Cumbrian items) over a weekend!”
Introducing the Localness Onion: Immediate Local and Regionally Local- and its relevance to Regional News.
Up-dated May 2021 This Website provides a constructive critique of BBC and ITV Regional News (as watched) in northern parts of both North West and North East England on the grounds that viewers to not get enough news that is remotely, let alone immediately “Local” to them. The ideal news for a location is oneContinue reading “Introducing the Localness Onion: Immediate Local and Regionally Local- and its relevance to Regional News.”
17th July 2020: Nothing about Cumbria on BBC NorthWest tonight for last four days-no coverage of woman who died after Cleator Moor murder.
If you thought BBC North West Tonight was covering Cumbria a bit more regularly- and it certainly began to seem that way- then another week without any Cumbrian news- coverage on the BBC’s flagship main news-bulletin for North West England comes along to squash any hopes that South Cumbrian and North Lancastrian viewers might haveContinue reading “17th July 2020: Nothing about Cumbria on BBC NorthWest tonight for last four days-no coverage of woman who died after Cleator Moor murder.”
BBC North West Tonight, BBC Look North (North East and Cumbria), ITV Granada and ITV Tyne Tees can improve coverage at the margins of their transmission areas at little extra cost.
15th July 2020 Dear Readers BBC North West Tonight was presented by the excellent Roger Johnson with flamboyant Owain Wyn Evans presenting the weather- forecast. Meanwhile on BBC Look North (NE & Cumbria) Carol Malia presented the news with the seasoned- meteorologist Paul Mooney providing a detailed weather- forecast. The news- presenters and weather- forecastersContinue reading “BBC North West Tonight, BBC Look North (North East and Cumbria), ITV Granada and ITV Tyne Tees can improve coverage at the margins of their transmission areas at little extra cost.”
A large Region of northern Britain covering southern Scotland and rural Northumberland effectively sidelined by the BBC
Viewers of Regional and Local Television in mid and North Northumberland and the Scottish Borders (including the easternmost part of East Lothian- which extends well to the east of Edinburgh) are comprehensively short- changed in the amount of localised coverage that they receive. The Scottish border- and with it the boundaries of different BBC andContinue reading “A large Region of northern Britain covering southern Scotland and rural Northumberland effectively sidelined by the BBC”
9th July 2020: Better coverage across much more of North West England on BBC North West Tonight.
When BBC North West Tonight shows signs (and intent) towards improving news- coverage across the northern two- thirds of North West England it is good to point this out. Tonight’s Regional Bulletin (with the wonderful Annabel Tiffin) is a case in-point: Out of ten big news stories there were two about Cumbria (and part ofContinue reading “9th July 2020: Better coverage across much more of North West England on BBC North West Tonight.”
If you live in Lancashire, Cumbria, the Isle of Man- or Northumberland and watch Regional Television- Your Views and Feedback are Welcome
I would like to take this opportunity to remind anyone who visits this Website who lives either in the northern two- thirds of North West England, the Isle of Man or indeed Northumberland to share their views on the BBC and ITV Regional Television where they live: Is the Local News where you live reallyContinue reading “If you live in Lancashire, Cumbria, the Isle of Man- or Northumberland and watch Regional Television- Your Views and Feedback are Welcome”
Distances and Travel Times between Cumbria/ North Lancashire and major centres in the North West, North East of England and also southern Scotland: Relevant to Regional Television.
DEFINING WHAT IS LOCAL TO A PARTICULAR COMMUNITY A few basic facts establish whether a location in Cumbria or North Lancashire should be receiving BBC (and/ or ITV) Regional output from the North West, the North East of England- or whether really it should be part of a new Television Region. The first is theContinue reading “Distances and Travel Times between Cumbria/ North Lancashire and major centres in the North West, North East of England and also southern Scotland: Relevant to Regional Television.”
North East England is North East England- and BBC Look North and ITV Tyne Tees must cover Northumberland more.
Readers of this Website- dedicated to campaigning for better Regional News coverage for the northern two-thirds of North West England- might be interested to know that there will be articles covering the forgotten northern corners of North East England too. This is the first one devoted to pointing out the deficiencies of Regional news coverageContinue reading “North East England is North East England- and BBC Look North and ITV Tyne Tees must cover Northumberland more.”