>despite what they say, I think that the ITV system worked.

Yes. It worked in 1955. It worked in 1956. It worked in 1957. It worked in 1958. It worked in 1959. It worked in 1960. It worked in 1961. It worked in 1962. It worked in 1963. It worked in 1964. It worked in 1965. It worked in 1966. It worked in 1967. It worked in 1968. It worked in 1969. It worked in 1970. It worked in 1971. It worked in 1972. It worked in 1973. It worked in 1974. It worked in 1975. It worked in 1976. It worked in 1977. It worked in 1978. It worked in 1979. It worked in 1980. It worked in 1981. It worked in 1982. It worked in 1983. It worked in 1984. It worked in 1985. It worked in 1986. It worked in 1987. It worked in 1988. It worked in 1989. It worked in 1990. It worked in 1991. It worked in 1992.

It hasn't worked since 1993.

In 1993 there was the incident with the pigeon.

"... I could go on."
"No"

The fact is, under the ITV system, companies like Carlton ate their competitors. It's a Darwinian thing - the more willing you are to pander to the lowest common denominator, the "fitter" you are (in terms of corporate takeovers). Without wishing to endorse the Corpses' "plebs and us" view of the world, it's true that companies which make cheap, crowd-pleasing programming will prevail under the ITV system.

When ITV becomes one entity, it'll probaly be no better than the BBC with the local coverage being news opt-outs, and the odd *token* programme on the network. It has always been the fact that ITV was made-up of diverse regional companies that made it work. They may keep the tags and names, but viewers will realise that they're really watching ITV East, ITV North-West, etc; It will also allow them to gradually get rid of their regulatory requirements, and allow other companies (such as tat masters GMG Endemol) to produce shows and programmes, rather than the local companies.

Furthermore, after the next Act, which will encompass both broadcasting and telecomms, the ITC will be replaced by a new regulator. The ITC are currently trying to look tough as they are clinging onto their jobs, and trying to get a place on any new executive. I would not be surprised if the new regulator decides to re-write the rules (more technocratic nonsense) which would allow the super-merger to take place.

As for the timescale, 2003 seems about right. The new Act is currently in its embryonic stage, and is not expected to be drafted until 2001 - about the time of the next General Election. So, using that timescale, 2003 is very likely.

Agreed, the old system worked very well, but is now outmoded. Acquisitions and mergers have left numerous little empires all over the place, companies which cared have been replaced with companies which don't care. It would be quite fitting that these large centres (Leeds, London, Glasgow etc) be shut down themselves and all those smug execs put on the dole. I for one will be the first to spit on their graves.

Get rid of the ITV regional structure completely, and replace it with a new series of local stations. ASAP.

>When ITV becomes one entity, it'll probaly
>be no better than the BBC

(voice of Angus Deayton) So... no change there...

The BBC is better than ITV, as everyone but poetry-writing sixth-formers knows very well.
Er ...
Also, who wants regional TV? I grew up in Birmingham - I don't want to hear about local events.
"And now, mudf*cking from Gas Street Basin."
Local news is doomed to be tedious, since if it was interesting, it would have been on the proper news. The only people who watch local news are tabloid readers looking for paedophiles to lynch.

>Local news is doomed to be tedious, since if it was interesting, it would have been on the proper news.

Something which is only relevant to local people may not merit a mention on the national news, but can be very important when it comes to national news. This is especially true, the further you get from London, and even more so in the devolved 'nations'.

It seems to me that welsh people enjoy watching local programmes a lot more than anyone else. Is this because they are better?

No, it's because of all the exciting things that happen in Wales. Too many to mention.

Another sheep went missing yesterday, for instance.