GRANADA Reports is to be re-branded as an offshoot of the main London-based ITV news bulletin.
Executives at the newly-created single ITV network have decided the north west's local commercial TV news bulletin should be updated to fit in with the channel's new "national image".
The changes are expected to be made early next year and will heighten fears over the impact of a single ITV on TV jobs and distinctive programme-making in Manchester.
Campaigners with the viewers' group Voice of the Viewer and Listener say they have "grave concerns" about the implications of the re-branding for regional diversity in British TV.
Granada Reports, hosted by Lucy Meacock and Tony Morris, was given its latest makeover only in September, with a new set, titles and music for the evening bulletins.
Now the programme, with the local news bulletins of all 15 ITV regions, is to be redesigned once more to include ITV logos and graphics.
Clive Jones, managing director of the ITV network, said the changes would coincide with a redesign of the main ITV national news bulletin when it moves to its new nightly slot of 10.30 early next year.
Relatives
He told a conference of TV executives in Salford that the merged ITV channel planned to create a "more coherent look to the news". He added that the intention was for the national and regional news bulletins to "look more like relatives, and not strangers".
Mr Jones insisted the national makeover would not dilute regional identity and said there were no plans to scrap the name Granada Reports. "It won't become ITV News North West, or anything like that," he told the M.E.N.
"The Granada name has a resonance in this region which we want to keep. This certainly does not mean a diminution of regional identity."
Mr Jones, who is set to become chief executive of ITV News, said the changes would involve using common colours and graphics in news bulletins so viewers across the country would know they were watching the ITV channel.
But Jocelyn Hay, who chairs Voice of the Listener and Viewer, said the re-branding was further evidence of a shift towards centralisation in London following ITV's merger.
"I am concerned that regional identity may be lost in the process," she said. "We are already concerned that production business is being cut back in all ITV regions."
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Not interested in yet "another" London news.
Granada has always been based in Manchester and being a Mancunian, that's the only news I'm interested in.
If they want to project a "national" image, then this is yet another programme that I'll stop watching.
"Executives at the newly-created single **ITV network** have decided the **north west's** local TV news"
Notice that now that the Thatcher policy on ITV has been achieved with a single England and Wales ITV company, it is the London based executives who are now deciding what will be delivered at the local level.
Politbureau member Tessa Jowell's comments about how regional identity would be preserved in the free for all communications bill are thus proven to be nothing more than the deception in which politicians of all parties willfully engage.
Granada has already scaled down its Liverpool operation and is now virtually closing down in Salford. It's the death of Regional TV as we've come to know it Very sad for those of us who despise everything being centered on London.
What's the big deal? "BBC North West Tonight" was redesigned to match the national BBC news back in 2000. The same music and colours are used in BBC local news broadcasts all over England and yet still we know Gordon Burns is our man with the news for round here. In fact, he's so much better, I never watch Granada Reports anyway.
It a bloody shame that ITV plc has 2 do tgis 2 our regional compaines and granada
Does it matter? I think it's better when it all looks the same anyway. I rather like it. The BBC has a standard format for BBC World, BBC News 24, the BBC National News, BBC English Regional news programmes and BBC NI, Scotland, Wales and BBC Cymru on S4C (the Welsh speacking channel). I find it by far more professional. Granada Reports still exists, I don't see the fuss.
'Re-branded'? Not want to lose regional identity? Cobblers! This is how it all starts. When they expect me to eat jellied eels I'll show them what it feels like to have something shoved down their throats. Tell them to bugger off!
I have just been shocked listening to the Chief Executive of the Salford hospitals commenting on MRSA.
His casual approach to the statistics for the area has upset me. He stated that "we will be doing everything possible to reduce the number of patients dying from this by one half, over the next few years. I hope he is not of the opinion that that target is is any way good enough.If his comment is a real "expectation" he appears not to have empathy with every one of those affected by this "bug". There are the victims, the secondary victims, and indeed all of those who now fear any kind of hospital intervention or appointment as a result of the negligence of the NHS and its representatives, of which he is the appointed leader, to keep the hospitals free of deadly organisms by ensuring hygienic standards are maintained.That Chief Executive should lead by his example and should be on his knees himself---scrubbing the places clean---and then apologising to all of the relatives of the 85 admitted as lost, and victims that have survived but whose lifestyles have been ruined , for such a tactless resume of his personal position of responsibility in all of this. The statistics are vile for this area ----and this as a preventable situation.This chief executive should be duly ashamed of this being the case, He should be replaced by someone who takes the matter more seriously and has a much more pro-active dedication to resolving this issue FULLY and NOW---not "half" heartedly in the "next few Years." and before all of us that live in this area succumb to a death sentence.
I have already lost friends and neighbours to this and I feel so strongly that this is akin to corporate manslaughter. It is their decisions and actions that is allowing the MRSA to be rife in the North West.
Take the B out of the Bang in fireworks just lights and no noise and we will all be happy!
I don't want to watch northwest news presented from London;it should be here in the North West where it belongs from dedicated studios and facilities!!! ITV1 shame on you! You're a load of trasha anyway.
leave granada reports alone i live in the north west why should everything be done from ITN lucy and tony are lovely presenters and not at all stuffy and stuck up like they can be on the BBC!