An 18-month review from media regulator Ofcom has proposed some of its obligations should be reduced, including news.[>
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Sweeping changes to ITV news services in the south of the country will also see the Border and Tyne Tees areas served by a single regional main weekday bulletin.[>
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Ofcom said the BBC will not have to share its licence fee with other TV stations, but Channel 4 could merge with Five.[>
Sounded a death knell for STV
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Yesterday Iain Smith, Scottish Liberal Democrat culture spokesman, said the review “sounded a death knell for STV”.[>
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He added: “It is difficult to see how any meaningful national or regional programming can survive if Ofcom refuses to recognise the elephant in the room by not ordering the break-up of ITV plc.” John Lamont, Tory MSP for Roxburgh & Berwickshire, called the report the “final nail in the coffin of Border TV”.[>
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Labour MSP Pauline McNeill said: “It is simply unacceptable that viewers in Hawick and Galashiels will get their local news from Gateshead. We should be looking at how we improve the service to viewers in Scotland, not reduce it.” [>
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The changes are aimed at meeting the challenges of the switch from analogue to digital.[>
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STV described it as a positive set of recommendations. A spokeswoman said: “Ofcom recognises the pressures facing commercial public service broadcasters and the need to modernise the system.”[>
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A Scottish Government spokesman said it was “concerned” at the cut in STV’s programme obligations, while recognising the station’s financial issues.[>
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