The General Secretary of the Celtic League has written to the Chief Executive of Ofcom to express concern over regional news and programming cuts and the potential impact on several of the Celtic countries (see below):

"Dear Ed Richards

Cutting of regional news services by ITV

We were extremely disappointed to hear that Ofcom has given its approval for ITV to cut its regional news programming and reduce regional programming by 50% from next year.

The affect that this cut will have on regional television quality in Alba/Scotland, Cymru/Wales, Kernow/Cornwall and the north of Ireland and the loss of jobs in these areas cannot be qualified. We are aware that ITV wants to make budget cuts and that Channel 4 will be able to increase its commitment for productions sourced from Alba/Scotland, Cymru/Wales and the north of Ireland, but as a spokesman for Bectu, the broadcasting union, said on the matter, it is not:

"...healthy for the broadcasting ecology just to have BBC and a token effort from ITV".

We believe that regional programming will be adversely affected and in the case of Kernow/Cornwall especially, one local news programme that covers the whole region from Penzance in Cornwall to Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, is nothing short of bonkers.

The licence fee paying public has the right to receive regional programming that is not just limited to the BBC. If the funding of other broadcasters cannot be met without a reduction in regional programming, the BBC should be forced to distribute part of its £3.4 billion-a-year public funding (and its other resources) to other broadcasters who have experienced a drop of funding by a decrease in advertising expenditure and the rise of digital viewing.

We are aware that the final decision on how public service shows will be funded in the future lies with the Westminster Government. We will be writing to the Governments and Administrations in the Celtic countries to ask them to apply pressure to Westminster to reject Ofcom's final recommendation next year.

We look forward to hearing from you with your views.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot

General Secretary Celtic League

CC Michael Grade, ITV's executive chairman"

Related links on the BECTU site at:

(voir le site) (voir le site)

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

30/09/08

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