ITV, BBC Align for Regional News Initiative

LONDON: ITV and the BBC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support cost savings for regional news throughout England and Wales.

The two organizations have been discussing possible ways in which they could work together in partnership aimed at securing a long-term future for regional news on ITV1. There have been discussions on a number of ways that ITV and the BBC could work together to reduce costs of regional news. The possibilities include co-locating the ITV and BBC regional news centers and bureaus, sharing technical facilities and resources and pooling some of the videos and pictures gathered by BBC crews for use in ITV’s regional services.

With the synergies that could be created, ITV estimate that there is the potential for a savings of £1.5million in 2011, rising incrementally to around £7 million per year by 2016.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed is non-binding and each party has set a number of conditions around its future application.

BBC’s deputy director-general, Mark Byford, said: "The BBC and ITV will now continue our discussions around what would be an innovative and ground breaking proposal."

ITV’s COO, John Cresswell, added: "Plurality in regional news is an important part of PSB and we welcome this step in helping to support it."