[rich.]

Does anyone think that ITV Wales should do the same as Stv and seperate its self from the rest of the network and go it alone.

During the financial climate Would they make any profit if they did?

It would be good to see more local programming on the channel and also a name change back to HTV would nice.

[epsom]

Surely you're joking! The nationalistic feeling in Wales has always been small compared with Scotland. Those who do feel that way already have a channel, and that is enough for them. Plus, of course, there's no way a separate ITV Wales would be financially viable.

[StevenNT]

Given that ITV Wales is owned by ITV Plc I can not see ITV Plc letting ITV Wales restore it's independence and returning to it's previous name of HTV Wales any time soon.

ITV Plc also has the attitude of "over my dead body" on allowing the regions any free reign and only broadcast the minimum amount of Welsh regional programming they are required to by Ofcom, rather disappointing really for a so called regional network.

[Westward]

Originally Posted by StevenNT

Given that ITV Wales is owned by ITV Plc I can not see ITV Plc letting ITV Wales restore it's independence and returning to it's previous name of HTV Wales any time soon.

ITV Plc also has the attitude of "over my dead body" on allowing the regions any free reign and only broadcast the minimum amount of Welsh regional programming they are required to by Ofcom, rather disappointing really for a so called regional network.

Why would they do any more than the bare minimum that Ofcom requires, given that regional programming is loss-making?

The directors are required by law to maximise profits available to the PLC's shareholders.

HTV Wales always used to be loss-making which is why it was paired with the West of England. Most people in Cardiff/Newport have always had their aerials pointed towards the Mendip transmitter.

[omnidirectional]

Originally Posted by Westward

Most people in Cardiff/Newport have always had their aerials pointed towards the Mendip transmitter.

And along the North Wales Coast many aerials are pointing towards Winter Hill as there has always been a feeling that Granada does more to cover North Wales than ITV Wales!

[Ivor Fanny]

ITV 1 should go national and Wales, Scotland and Ulster can still carry on.

[Jules 1]

Originally Posted by epsom

Surely you're joking! The nationalistic feeling in Wales has always been small compared with Scotland. Those who do feel that way already have a channel, and that is enough for them. Plus, of course, there's no way a separate ITV Wales would be financially viable.

But the nationalist feeling is growing. However from an economic point of view, you are right.

Originally Posted by Westward

Why would they do any more than the bare minimum that Ofcom requires, given that regional programming is loss-making?

The directors are required by law to maximise profits available to the PLC's shareholders.

HTV Wales always used to be loss-making which is why it was paired with the West of England. Most people in Cardiff/Newport have always had their aerials pointed towards the Mendip transmitter.

The irony is of course that ITV Wales is heavily biased towards Cardiff.

But I do think there should be more of a Welsh identity to ITV Wales, which is non existent at the moment.

[ftv]

Originally Posted by omnidirectional

And along the North Wales Coast many aerials are pointing towards Winter Hill as there has always been a feeling that Granada does more to cover North Wales than ITV Wales!

The loyalty of viewers to Granada springs from the fact they got ITV from Winter Hill in 1956 and didn't get a service from Wales until the doomed Teledu Cymru went on the air in 1963. Granada used to carry a few programmes in Welsh in the afternoons and covered stories in north Wales.
The BBC used to have Welsh language programmes on the Winter Hill and Sutton Coldfield transmitters during the day and opened Llanddona in 1962.

[granadatvman]

Considering that ITV plc have dumped a lot of the so-called unprofitable television programs, they don't really seem to be doing that well business wise, unless ive missed something.

They same to make the best money from selling tv programs and series to the rest of the world

[neiltaffy]

Originally Posted by Jules 1

But the nationalist feeling is growing. However from an economic point of view, you are right.



The irony is of course that ITV Wales is heavily biased towards Cardiff.

But I do think there should be more of a Welsh identity to ITV Wales, which is non existent at the moment.

Quite right. Broadcasting in Wales is an issue that the Assembly in particular pays close attention to, and there have been several calls from think tanks and reports as to how to provide PSB , including news in Wales, aside from the Beeb.*


One of the options suggested is a separate licence for Wales , here
http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-hom...onse_to_bc.htm


(Its one of those areas where although non -devolved, the issue of broadcasting cosses over into devolved areas, such as culture etc..)

I would add the pointing of aerials to other regions was more to do in most cases with the Welsh language provisions that HTV Wales and BBC Wales made up to 1/11/1982 on their own channels, rather than avoiding Wales per se

[Westward]

Originally Posted by neiltaffy

I would add the pointing of aerials to other regions was more to do in most cases with the Welsh language provisions that HTV Wales and BBC Wales made up to 1/11/1982 on their own channels, rather than avoiding Wales per se

Maybe so, but twenty-seven years on in Cardiff, there are hardly any homes without Mendip aerials. Some now have two aerials but a large number are still Mendip-only.

This issue will return next year when Channel 4 HD will not be broadcast on DTT in Wales.

[Servicetech 1]

To be honest,i can't see why ITV PLC,won't allow all the regional ITV channels,to re-introduce their own identities,if only the continuity announcers.

in HTV's case,they were the one thing i remember,about HTV and they were very good at their job's,very personable and welcoming.

I don't think HTV would survive,solely,on advertising revenue,due to the 'fractured' viewing audience,what with ITV Granada's dominance,in the North Wales coast and Border area's and ITV West,taking up a large number of viewers,in South Wales. Wales is a tv advertisers worst nightmare,as far as regional ad's,are concerned.

The only possibility,is if the Welsh Assembly,try to introduce an additional Welsh licence fee,to fund both S4C and HTV.

Of course,this all depends on if the WAG wins a referendum,on gaining legislative powers,in Wales.

[Jules 1]

Originally Posted by Westward

Maybe so, but twenty-seven years on in Cardiff, there are hardly any homes without Mendip aerials. Some now have two aerials but a large number are still Mendip-only.

This issue will return next year when Channel 4 HD will not be broadcast on DTT in Wales.

It this anecdotal evidence, or are there surveys to back this up, I am wasn't aware of this.

Saying this though with the ITV Wales report which almost completely ignored the Swans win over Cardiff, I can understand why people don't care about ITV Wales.

[neiltaffy]

Originally Posted by Westward

Maybe so, but twenty-seven years on in Cardiff, there are hardly any homes without Mendip aerials. Some now have two aerials but a large number are still Mendip-only.

This issue will return next year when Channel 4 HD will not be broadcast on DTT in Wales.

Partially agree with that, as I lived (and still work) there, but I would say a vast majority get Wenvoe now in addition to Mendip.
From personal experience only (not an expert on this, only have anecdotal evidence). I knew a few people switched over for things such as when recieving the likes of BBC Wales/ S4C for sporting (i.e. live football) events, when matches werent shown elsewhere (Im thinking of the 1990s).

I also havent heard of the lack of aeriels pointing towards Wenvoe being an issue as it was in pre digital days, but hey I could be wrong .I live in Pontypool now (and all my neighbourhood could get ATV, Westward and HTV West, and often wed all pick them ahead of welsh programming. Nowadays thoughhardly any in my area do this.

I guess that DSO will influence many in that Wenvoe is the stronger transmitter for us, but yes thats also complicated by the loss of CHannel 4HD (Hey we didnt get ABC1 too,though no great loss )

Id also agree with Servicetech1 that the whole geographic and coverage overspill problems facing Wales and broadcasting. Lets face it any of the regional compnies had more charisma than the current ITV prescence

As an aside On the WAG referendum, it may be that powers won might not even cover this area..and many (even within Plaid) arent that keen on raising additional cash. I think it will be won though close (noting the trend of a swing towards supporting extra powers- from my experience the real people who block it are old Labour in Wales)

[cymru148]

delete

[rockandroll]

Originally Posted by Jules 1

Saying this though with the ITV Wales report which almost completely ignored the Swans win over Cardiff, I can understand why people don't care about ITV Wales.

Were you even watching the same programme I did!? I saw a report on the match. What more do you want?

[Jules 1]

Originally Posted by rockandroll

Were you even watching the same programme I did!? I saw a report on the match. What more do you want?

The ITV Wales report on Sunday teatime said the score and nothing else. There was no report on the match and no goals were shown. If the result was different, the coverage would have been different.

On Tonight's main news the game was covered though.

[emails]

i can't see why not its the only national regional not to of gone indipendent,& besides wales is virturally indipendent in others areas ie politics why not itv?

[John Robinson]

I think ITV Yorkshire should be allowed to 'go it alone'!

[G Honeybun]

Originally Posted by Jules 1

The ITV Wales report on Sunday teatime said the score and nothing else. There was no report on the match and no goals were shown. If the result was different, the coverage would have been different.

On Tonight's main news the game was covered though.

This might have something to do with 'News Access'

When I worked freelance at one of the ITV regions, I was told that they could only use other channels pictures twice.

So on the Saturday evening bulletin I was told not to use pictures of the rugby match that had taken place earlier because they would rather use it in their programmes on Sunday and Monday.

This might explain why they only showed pictures from the Swansea v Cardiff match on Saturday and Monday.

[emails]

Originally Posted by John Robinson

I think ITV Yorkshire should be allowed to 'go it alone'!

no its only an english region,on the subject of itv yorkshire ,now its closed down where does calender news come from? obvously yorkshire no long make programmes for other networks but just there own news service

[rockandroll]

Originally Posted by Jules 1

The ITV Wales report on Sunday teatime said the score and nothing else. There was no report on the match and no goals were shown. If the result was different, the coverage would have been different.

On Tonight's main news the game was covered though.

Jesus. So you watched the news on Sunday (the day after the match) not on Satuday? Saturday when the Swans won, and I saw a report showing every goal, plus a lead report on the match build up. People just love to moan don't they. I agree with the other comment...these were sky pictures and there are rules about showing other broadcasters pics.

[yorksdave]

Originally Posted by emails

no its only an english region,on the subject of itv yorkshire ,now its closed down where does calender news come from? obvously yorkshire no long make programmes for other networks but just there own news service

Calendar and Emmedale have studios/production centres seperate from the old YTV building

[wombatofludham]

I still believe there is a role for regional television, not just news and current affairs which is what most think of when they think local telly (including politicians who just want to get their faces in front of their voters, and the BBC who can be a bit mixed in this respect although BBC Wales does try and make other stuff including comedy and drama purely for Wales), but that ITV has gone too far down the road of being a national broadcaster to do the job.

I think ITV should cease to have any PSB obligations and lose any priveleges that bestows on them, and instead Channel 4 as the other State owned broadcaster be forced to lose one of the more useless digi-channels it has (E4+1 for example) and given some of the licence fee to use the digital channel to set up regional broadcasting stations providing a full mix of news, arts, drama, youth and comedy programming to support regional diversity and provide proper competition to the BBC in regional news and current affairs. In Wales, S4C could set up an English language channel following the same format as their current service on behalf of the new service.

It seems odd that many other less well off European countries have regional broadcasting that is popular and well regarded yet we in the UK are actively presiding over the gradual decline of regional services - yet there is a lot of regional diversity and interest/affection out there, even in England where I know quite a few people who miss the old regional ITV local programmes when they weren't the quota filling crap ITV "regional" has put out of late. Don't forget that programmes like Tiswas, Sale of the Century Survival and Crossroads all began as regional output, so regional telly doesn't have to mean earnestly dull programmes of semi-retired local newsreaders in wellies looking at old tractors.

[ftv]

Certainly France, Spain and Germany all have successful regional or local stations with far more local material than you would find in the UK.It's strange they don't find them too expensive to make whereas ITV do(and they are all commercial networks). The whole point about ITV was that it was a federal system while the BBC was largely centrally-controlled with a few local programmes. The truth, of course, is that ITV doesn't want to do anything that doesn't make money (what happened to religious programmes on ITV, or the arts or anything resembling culture or education). When these companies won their franchises they made wonderful promises (I seem to remember there was even talk about opera on ITV).Those promises are now seen to be not worth the paper they were written on.