BORDERS PARLIAMENTARIANS GIVE ITV PROPOSALS A GUARDED WELCOME AS "PROGRESS"

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 1st Aug 2008

Jeremy Purvis MSP and Michael Moore MP have today responded to the revised proposals by ITV plc for local news coverage in the Border TV are as "a step in the right direction".

ITV have revised their proposals to Ofcom to continue to merge Border TV news and Tyne Tees news but to retain a Lookaround programme in the Border area, with a dedicated 15 minutes time 'opt' for the region, including a commitment for a dedicated 6 minutes 'opt' for the South of Scotland. The proposals allow for a dedicated video journalist to be based within the Borders which will be a first for news coverage.

After speaking with ITV's head of regions, Michael Jermey, Jeremy Purvis has welcomed the revised changes that have responded to the strong campaign to retain Lookaround but has said that the case has not been made to allow a reduction in 30 minutes to a 15 minutes dedicated news coverage for the region. Michael Moore has indicated that Ofcom needs to be robust in its protection of local news services.

"The revised proposals are much better than those originally submitted," says Jeremy Purvis "but there are still serious questions about the level of coverage we will receive from the new programme and in the other breakfast and lunchtime bulletins. I am pleased that ITV has listened to the strong views locally about the need to protect the Lookaround programme. ITV have told me they are committed to increasing the quality of coverage with, for the first time in the Borders, a dedicated video journalist and whilst this sounds good we have to scrutinise the details."

Michael Moore is continuing to challenge regulator Ofcom to protect the local services and said:

"I have stressed repeatedly to Ofcom that they have a duty to protect the interests of local ITV viewers in news and current affairs provision. Whilst the ITV proposals are a step in the right direction, the regulator must ensure that it publishes a robust requirement in September to ensure that there is no reduction in local coverage, in both time on air, as well as breadth of coverage across the new region."