'Journal TV' could go up against BBC

Nov 20 2009 by Joanne Butcher, The Journal

LOCAL television news could soon be provided by The Journal after parent company, Trinity Mirror, teamed up with national news agency the Press Association and TV production company Ten Alps in a bid to bring a new pilot scheme to the North East.

The consortium would produce regional news broadcasts to rival the BBC and replace ITV’s news service, which currently makes a loss. A pilot scheme could begin as early as April next year.

It follows the publication of the Digital Britain white paper in June, which warned viewers could be left with no choice over where they got their news.

The report said that trusted, professional TV news in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the English regions could end up only being provided by the BBC, unless action was taken.

As a result, the Government proposed the introduction of independently-funded news groups to produce regional TV news.

“Top slicing” the television licence fee – paying out money to each of the broadcasters – is the preferred source of funding. But this is vigorously opposed by the BBC.

Announcing its bid yesterday, the consortium said it brought together the Press Association’s expertise in covering and commissioning content, Trinity Mirror’s on-the-ground news-gathering strength and the award-winning programme-making skills of Ten Alps, which was co-founded by Sir Bob Geldof.

And bosses stressed the value of piloting the scheme in the North East.