BBC, ITV agree regional news approach

The BBC and ITV have reached agreement on a mechanism to allow the commercial broadcaster access to the BBC's regional news resources.

A memorandum of understanding setting the ground rules for future discussions on the subject has now been signed, and it is hoped that a final service level agreement would be approved and in place sometime in 2010 or 2011.

Under the proposals, the BBC and ITV will discuss sharing newsroom and studio facilities in England. A shared facility would be established in Cardiff by 2015 although the gallery and studio used by each network would remain separate so that the BBC can continue to offer a bi-lingual service in Wales.

Technical facilities would be shared, and an opportunity to pool picture and video resources is also on the table. Exclusive stories would not be shared, and the joint announcement said that securing privacy for both broadcasters to operate within a shared facility is a "key objective" that would "allow original journalism to be created and delivered".

"Plurality in regional news is an important part of public service broadcasting and we welcome this step in helping to support it," said ITV chief operating officer John Cresswell.

ITV has estimated that £1.5m may be saved by 2011 as a result of the shared arrangements, rising incrementally to approximately £7m per year by 2016.