View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
November 14, 2006updated 22 Nov 2022 9:48pm

Prof says local TV won’t impact regional press

By Press Gazette

An independent report into the BBC proposed new local TV services has concluded that the corporation would be “unlikely to have significant impact on other players in local markets”.

And he has suggested that video news should be introduced to the BBC’s existing network of “Where I Live” sites immediately.

Professor Roger Laughton carried out the research into the BBC’s nine-month trial of “ultra local” TV news in the West Midlands from December 2005 to August 2006.

Regional newspaper editors have previously expressed concern that the huge resources of the BBC could stifle the development of their own internet video news services.

Professor Laughton’s report, which was commissioned by BBC managers, concluded: “daily recorded 7-10 minute bulletins and on-demand news items and features are unlikely to have a significant impact on other players in local markets.

“However, the BBC’s final plans will need to be open to scrutiny, communicated
clearly and, if agreed, implemented with a sensitivity to local market conditions. The
key should be to identify a strategy that maps both onto the BBC’s existing public
purposes and into its post-2014 strategic thinking. The timing of the introduction of
new services will be important.

“At the outset of this report, I suggested that local television and local video may
need to be considered separately when the BBC decides the form of its final
proposals.

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

“I consider the BBC has made the case for enhancement of its local news-gathering
resources and for the delivery of on-demand news bulletins and items to broadband
users in its local broadcasting areas, on screens wherever and whenever viewers can
be reached.

“In my judgement, broadband delivery will become increasingly
significant in the delivery of local news to households when IPTV becomes
widespread.

“The introduction of enhanced video news services on the Where I Live
sites should be considered immediately. The pilot demonstrated that take-up of on demand
news items increased throughout the nine months of the experiment.”

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