View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

BBC Trust approves scheme to extend local news services

By Oliver Luft

The BBC Trust has approved revised plans for the corporation to enhance its local TV and radio services in the regions and nations.

Under the new plan annual “state of the nation/region” journalism initiative would be established in each designated BBC region with the introduction of a more “geographically representative” newsgathering operation.

Geographically targeted sports coverage would also be developed along with a fund for programming in the English regions, distinctive factual programming in the devolved nations and a regional radio opt out on national radio services in Wales and Scotland.

This latest venture replaces the plan for a network of hyper-local video news websites across the country that were rejected by the Trust in February because the negative impact it could have on the commercial sector outweighed the potential public value created by introduction.

The hyper-local plan met with strong condemnation from large parts of the local media industry which complained that it could damage the development of fledgling online services.

The BBC Trust said today: “Unlike the local video proposal, the new plans build upon the BBC’s existing linear services, and improve the range and quality of regional television and radio output.”

Cost of delivering these new measures, the Trust said, would be covered by efficiency savings within BBC’s nations and regions.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

In addition, the Trust said it had also approved plans for more landmark factual programming in the devolved nations and improvements to nations and regions linear TV and radio news including coverage of local government.

It added: “Investment in linear services may also generate a consequential small increase in the amount of video material that is also available online, although BBC management expects this to be very limited and in line with the terms of the service licence for bbc.co.uk. The Trust intends to monitor this closely.”

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network