The number of hours devoted to regional programmes at Meridian - the ITV Television Company owned by Granada - is to be slashed by nearly a half from fifteen-and-a-half hours a week to just eight-and-a-half hours a week. The admission has come in a letter from Lindsay Charlton, Managing Director of Meridian, to Lib Dem MP Norman Baker.
In response, Mr Baker has tabled a House of Commons motion with cross party support calling on Granada to reverse the decision to wipe 7 hours of regional programming a week off the schedule.
Speaking about the campaign, the MP for Lewes says:
"Meridian broadcasts a range of high quality programmes which tackle regional issues. I deplore Granada's decision to slash, by nearly a half, the number of hours Meridian devotes to regional broadcasts. It is difficult to escape the conclusion that our local programmes are being cut to pay for Granada's multi-million pound fiasco with ITV Digital."
"Granada has to remember that it is a public service broadcaster with privileged access to the airwaves. ITV's traditional public service remit has been to provide regional programming in a way the BBC has not been able to match. If this is now to disappear, I frankly question whether the privileged position of ITV should continue."
"The motion I have tabled has support from all political quarters and shows the strength of feeling on this important issue. I call for the full reinstatement of the number of hours set aside for regional programmes by Meridian."
A copy of the EDM is reproduced in full below:
That this House deplores the decision taken by Granada, the new owners of Meridian, to reduce the number of hours Meridian devotes to regional programming from fifteen-and-a-half hours to eight-and-a-half hours, a reduction of seven hours a week; suggests that the collapse of ITV digital and the financial cost of that to Granada has contributed to that decision; recognises the strength and popularity of Meridian's regional programming including its political programming; and calls on Granada to reverse its decision, return to fifteen-and-a-half hours of regional programming per week and ensure that the time allocated to current affairs programming remains undiluted within Meridian's schedule.
|Home
Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
Printed and hosted by Pipex Communications UK Ltd, Humber Buildings, Humber Rd, Beeston, Notts, NG9 2ET. Published and promoted by Norman Baker MP, House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 1AA. The views expressed are those of Norman Baker, not of the service provider.
