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http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> News and Comment >> BBC reveals new local news plans http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1249040828 Message started by Administrator on Jul 31^st, 2009, 11:48am

Title: BBC reveals new local news plans
Post by Administrator on Jul 31^st, 2009, 11:48am

31 July, 2009 | By Chris Curtis (Broadcastnow web-site)

The BBC is to overhaul its local TV and radio services as an alternative to its rejected proposal for on-demand local video news services.

In February, the BBC Trust rejected the executive’s plan for the online video service, ruling that there was inadequate public value generated by the proposal and that the likely public value did not outweigh potential negative market impact.
The new proposals are based instead on the BBC’s existing linear services, and are designed to improve the quality and depth of news provision in the nations and regions and deliver more effectively the BBC’s citizenship and community purposes.
The key plans are:
An annual ‘state of the nation/region’ journalism initiative in each nation and region
A fund for programming in the English regions
More landmark factual programming in the devolved nations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Geographically-targeted sports coverage
Improvements to nations and regions’ linear TV and radio news, including coverage of local government
A more geographically representative newsgathering operation
Distinctive factual programming in the devolved nations
Two additional weekend news bulletins in each nation and English region, and improved local news provision at breakfast and late evening
Regional radio news opt outs for Wales, and the enhancement of six opt outs for Scotland
The cost will be an annual investment of up to £8.5 million in 2009/10, peaking at £15.3 million in 2012/13, but will be covered by efficiency savings within the BBC’s current portfolio of nations and regions services.
The BBC Trust has decided that while these plans offer an increase in public value, they do not require a Public Value Test.