Menu
25/03/2010
UTV 'Preferred Bidder' For News Pilot
UTV has won its bid to run an independent news service in Wales.
This positive development will be all the more welcome at Havelock House as UTV has just this week posted a profit slide, thanks mainly to recessionary pressures on advertising revenues.
Wales Live will be produced by UTV, together with NWN Media Ltd – a regional newspaper print and publishing company.
The UK Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw has announced the preferred bidders for the three independently funded news consortia (IFNC) pilots in Scotland, Wales and the Tyne Tees/Border region in England.
The announcement follows a thorough evaluation process completed by an independent selection panel led by Richard Hooper.
The Government is planning to run three pilot schemes to deliver new ways of providing news for the nations, locally and in the regions to urgently address the sustainability of local and regional news provision in the longer term.
These consortia will receive Government funding totalling £47 million (including VAT at current rate) over two years, and will provide local news content across the web, mobile, and other new platforms, along with the television slot currently occupied by ITV and STV regional news.
The preferred bidders are:Scottish News Network (STV, ITN, and Bauer Radio) Tinopolis Great North News (led by ITN, with Johnston Press, Newsquest, Bauer Media, and University of Sunderland) Chair of the independent selection panel Richard Hooper said: "We asked for innovation and were not disappointed.
"We asked bidders also to think about longer term sustainability without public funds," he said.
"Given the political uncertainties surrounding IFNCs, my colleagues and I were particularly impressed by the sustained enthusiasm and resource commitment of the bidders and the momentum that has built up to deliver innovative multi-platform multi-layered news in Wales, Scotland and the Borders/Tyne Tees region of England, competing with the BBC."
Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw commented: "This is an important step towards our goal of ensuring choice for people who value high quality, independent local news.
"I'd like to congratulate all the bidders involved and all the members of the independent panel who under the Chairmanship of Richard Hooper have worked tirelessly to complete a thorough and rigorous process to ensure the preferred bidders are the right choice for Scotland, Wales and the Tyne Tees/Border region.
"The funding available to these consortia represents a massive commitment from this Government to help encourage the long term sustainability of news in the nations, locally and in the regions.
"I hope this focussed work will now continue with everyone working together to ensure these pilots are up and running by the end of the year."
See: Job Cuts Fail To Ease UTV Profit Fall
(BMcN/BMcC)
This positive development will be all the more welcome at Havelock House as UTV has just this week posted a profit slide, thanks mainly to recessionary pressures on advertising revenues.
Wales Live will be produced by UTV, together with NWN Media Ltd – a regional newspaper print and publishing company.
The UK Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw has announced the preferred bidders for the three independently funded news consortia (IFNC) pilots in Scotland, Wales and the Tyne Tees/Border region in England.
The announcement follows a thorough evaluation process completed by an independent selection panel led by Richard Hooper.
The Government is planning to run three pilot schemes to deliver new ways of providing news for the nations, locally and in the regions to urgently address the sustainability of local and regional news provision in the longer term.
These consortia will receive Government funding totalling £47 million (including VAT at current rate) over two years, and will provide local news content across the web, mobile, and other new platforms, along with the television slot currently occupied by ITV and STV regional news.
The preferred bidders are:
- Scottish News Consortium (SNC) (major newspaper groups Johnston Press, Herald and Times Group, and D C Thomson along with independent TV production company Tinopolis)
- Wales Live (UTV, the current Channel 3 licence holder in Northern Ireland together with NWN Media Ltd – a regional newspaper print and publishing company)
- News 3 (Trinity Mirror, Press Association and independent TV production company, Ten Alps)
"We asked bidders also to think about longer term sustainability without public funds," he said.
"Given the political uncertainties surrounding IFNCs, my colleagues and I were particularly impressed by the sustained enthusiasm and resource commitment of the bidders and the momentum that has built up to deliver innovative multi-platform multi-layered news in Wales, Scotland and the Borders/Tyne Tees region of England, competing with the BBC."
Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw commented: "This is an important step towards our goal of ensuring choice for people who value high quality, independent local news.
"I'd like to congratulate all the bidders involved and all the members of the independent panel who under the Chairmanship of Richard Hooper have worked tirelessly to complete a thorough and rigorous process to ensure the preferred bidders are the right choice for Scotland, Wales and the Tyne Tees/Border region.
"The funding available to these consortia represents a massive commitment from this Government to help encourage the long term sustainability of news in the nations, locally and in the regions.
"I hope this focussed work will now continue with everyone working together to ensure these pilots are up and running by the end of the year."
See: Job Cuts Fail To Ease UTV Profit Fall
(BMcN/BMcC)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
21 November 2024
Belfast Region City Deal Delivers Early Results
The Belfast Region City Deal, a decade-long investment program, is already making significant strides in delivering tangible benefits to the region. Three years after its inception, partners from the program recently visited Stormont to showcase the progress made so far.
Belfast Region City Deal Delivers Early Results
The Belfast Region City Deal, a decade-long investment program, is already making significant strides in delivering tangible benefits to the region. Three years after its inception, partners from the program recently visited Stormont to showcase the progress made so far.
04 January 2011
UTV In Your Hands
Northern Ireland broadcaster UTV has launched into the mobile app market, with a free UTV Live mobile app available for download on both iTunes and Android market.
UTV In Your Hands
Northern Ireland broadcaster UTV has launched into the mobile app market, with a free UTV Live mobile app available for download on both iTunes and Android market.
09 June 2010
Plug Pulled On UTV's Welsh News Pilot
There's muted disappointment at a regional TV station this week as a pilot scheme to provide a replacement news service for ITV Wales is now to be scrapped. The new government's Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt said that it would be "inappropriate" to spend scarce public money "propping up expensive regional news services".
Plug Pulled On UTV's Welsh News Pilot
There's muted disappointment at a regional TV station this week as a pilot scheme to provide a replacement news service for ITV Wales is now to be scrapped. The new government's Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt said that it would be "inappropriate" to spend scarce public money "propping up expensive regional news services".
01 November 2002
Vote of confidence for NI news services
A study of television and other news sources in the UK has found that only 4% of Northern Ireland viewers are dissatisfied with the provision of local news services. The research carried out by the Independent Television Commission (ITC) and Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC) found this was the lowest dissatisfaction rate in the UK.
Vote of confidence for NI news services
A study of television and other news sources in the UK has found that only 4% of Northern Ireland viewers are dissatisfied with the provision of local news services. The research carried out by the Independent Television Commission (ITC) and Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC) found this was the lowest dissatisfaction rate in the UK.
09 December 2009
UTV Media Helps Launch 'Wales Live'
One of the UK's leading regional television news provider has teamed up with Welsh news publisher NWN Media to apply for the Government's recently announced Independently Funded News Consortium (IFNC) pilot project in Wales.
UTV Media Helps Launch 'Wales Live'
One of the UK's leading regional television news provider has teamed up with Welsh news publisher NWN Media to apply for the Government's recently announced Independently Funded News Consortium (IFNC) pilot project in Wales.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
