Merger Of ITV Border And Tyne Tees News

EDM number 2047 in 2006-07, proposed by Michael Moore on 08/10/2007.

That this House notes with concern the plans by ITV to amalgamate regional news services across the United Kingdom, in particular to merge ITV Border with Tyne Tees leaving a much more limited news operation in Carlisle to cover the franchise area in the south of Scotland and the north of England; regrets that there have been no details provided about future news coverage for the south of Scotland; believes that the proposals represent an undermining of ITV's public service broadcasting obligations; further notes that the proposals do not comply with the current ITV Border franchise agreement and will therefore require approval by the regulator Ofcom; welcomes the willingness of Mr Michael Grade, and other senior managers at ITV, to meet hon. and right hon. Members representing constituencies in the region; urges ITV to re-consider the proposals; and further urges that if ITV does not revise its plans, Ofcom reject them.

This motion has been signed by a total of 22 MPs.