Bristol media firms hit the headlines on local TV news
The group, known as the Television South West News Consortium, intends to take advantage of government proposals to allow companies to provide local news programmes on ITV.
The new partners are aiming to revive the spirit of TSW and HTV, the former ITV stations in the west and south west of England, with one news service for Devon and Cornwall as well as dedicated news for Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset and Gloucestershire.
The new service will link with Northcliffe's existing resources using websites and internet television to extend and improve coverage for local communities. As well the Evening Post, Northcliffe owns newspapers all over the South West, including the Western Daily Press and the Western Morning News.
The consortium, which is also backed by local business people, is the first of its kind in the region to publicly register interest in government proposals for new regional television news services.
It will bid to supply two ITV regional news services – that were previously based in Bristol and Plymouth – when they become available in the lead up to the 2012 digital switchover. ITV wants to pull out of regional news by that time.
The hugely-experienced team is led by former HTV managing director Jeremy Payne, who said: "We intend to build a truly local television news service for the West Country. After years of decline in ITV regional news, the Government has published proposals that will enable us to reintroduce and even improve on the best days of regional news."
Steve Anderson-Dixon, Northcliffe's managing director for the South West & Wales, is passionate about expanding his local newspaper and internet news services.
"Our newspapers and websites have a unique relationship with readers and users, and the prospect of being able to extend that onto television is exciting," he said. "Our focus has always been to make local matter more and to support local communities to make a difference."
The Government, which concluded a consultation on the new television news services today, plans to award pilot schemes to consortia in Scotland, Wales, and an English region next year.
