New Meridian, BBC South & South East Thread

RD

RDJ 19 October 2020 5:20pm

And the one part of Oxfordshire not served by Meridian, which makes it even more stranger.

Henley used to get the odd mention in the Central South days, but yes as you say it's on the edge but officially it's London territory.

You'd think for having such a large patch, they'd be able to get some sort of suitable backdrop for each sub-region. It's not an area that's short of them... White Cliffs of Dover, Brighton Pier, Southampton Docks, Radcliffe Camera in Oxford. But they've gone for one bridge for all sub-regions that's not even comfortably within Meridian territory. Very odd.

AM

Alfie Mulcahy 19 October 2020 5:31pm

Markymark posted:

AlfieMulcahy posted:

Ballyboy posted:

This has always bugged me. for the south east version of itv Meridian. why isn’t there a south east landmark for the backdrop. they use Henley on Thames

Bugs me too. They could've used the Swale or Medway, Canturbury or Rochester Cathedral, The Reculver Towers or the cliffs of Dover. Rather than an riverbank in London

Henley on Thames is in Oxfordshire, about 35 miles from London !

Which region is it in ITV wise?
Because I thought it was served by ITV London and looks to be in that area from the map.

Last edited by Alfie Mulcahy on 19 October 2020 5:35pm

MA

Markymark 19 October 2020 5:41pm

AlfieMulcahy posted:

Markymark posted:

AlfieMulcahy posted:

Bugs me too. They could've used the Swale or Medway, Canturbury or Rochester Cathedral, The Reculver Towers or the cliffs of Dover. Rather than an riverbank in London

Henley on Thames is in Oxfordshire, about 35 miles from London !

Which region is it in ITV wise?
Because I thought it was served by ITV London and looks to be in that area from the map.

We've been through all this before I'm sure. The town is served by a relay station (of the same name) that is fed from Crystal Palace.
So it's in the London ITV region (and BBC London too). It's a relatively minor relay station, so in such cases the feed is the one that is technically the easiest to provide.

http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/gallerypage.php?txid=9

MA

Meridian AM 19 October 2020 5:41pm

RDJ posted:

London Lite posted:

And the one part of Oxfordshire not served by Meridian, which makes it even more stranger.

Henley used to get the odd mention in the Central South days, but yes as you say it's on the edge but officially it's London territory.

You'd think for having such a large patch, they'd be able to get some sort of suitable backdrop for each sub-region. It's not an area that's short of them... White Cliffs of Dover, Brighton Pier, Southampton Docks, Radcliffe Camera in Oxford. But they've gone for one bridge for all sub-regions that's not even comfortably within Meridian territory. Very odd.

The Thames Valley sub-region normally joins South after the first 10 minutes of the 6pm programme. Southampton and Oxford are 90-odd miles away from each other, with nothing in common. Which city would you put on the screen without being accused of bias or lack of 'localness' to the majority of a very wide area?
At least this Henley bridge is neutral, considering it is outside all 3 subregions. I'm sure a lot of viewers don't even know where the view is of anyway- I didn't! And I'm also sure that a lot of casual viewers don't even care!

Central has Birmingham and Nottingham as views, but their programmes are normally fully split. There is a generic newsroom view when they are panregional.

MA

Markymark 19 October 2020 5:57pm

Meridian AM posted:

The Thames Valley sub-region normally joins South after the first 10 minutes of the 6pm programme. Southampton and Oxford are 90-odd miles away from each other, with nothing in common. Which city would you put on the screen without being accused of bias or lack of 'localness' to the majority of a very wide area?
At least this Henley bridge is neutral, considering it is outside all 3 subregions. I'm sure a lot of viewers don't even know where the view is of anyway- I didn't! And I'm also sure that a lot of casual viewers don't even care!

Central has Birmingham and Nottingham as views, but their programmes are normally fully split. There is a generic newsroom view when they are panregional.

65 miles, it's not as far as 90, but I agree with your other points !

PO

Pompeyfm 19 October 2020 6:23pm

The previous background on Meridian was a bridge in Maidstone and was used for the South edition, no relevance to that area

BA

Ballyboy 19 October 2020 6:23pm

They should’ve kept the spinnaker tower

ST

South Today 19 October 2020 7:00pm

Ballyboy posted:

They should’ve kept the spinnaker tower

That was pre 2009! But I agree it was a lovely backdrop.

LL

London Lite Founding member 19 October 2020 7:13pm

That's TV Oxfordshire as it used to be known also used to cover Henley, despite being on a pea-shooter tx for Oxford.

PO

Pompeyfm 19 October 2020 7:30pm

Confirmed Roger Finn has left South Today, he was saying farewell at the end of tonight’s programme

MA

Meridian AM 19 October 2020 8:06pm

Markymark posted:

Meridian AM posted:

The Thames Valley sub-region normally joins South after the first 10 minutes of the 6pm programme. Southampton and Oxford are 90-odd miles away from each other, with nothing in common. Which city would you put on the screen without being accused of bias or lack of 'localness' to the majority of a very wide area?
At least this Henley bridge is neutral, considering it is outside all 3 subregions. I'm sure a lot of viewers don't even know where the view is of anyway- I didn't! And I'm also sure that a lot of casual viewers don't even care!

Central has Birmingham and Nottingham as views, but their programmes are normally fully split. There is a generic newsroom view when they are panregional.

65 miles, it's not as far as 90, but I agree with your other points !

Well say Weymouth or Poole to Banbury then. The furthest west to furthest north parts of the region. Must be over 100 miles! 😀

MA

Markymark 19 October 2020 9:04pm

Meridian AM posted:

Markymark posted:

Meridian AM posted:

The Thames Valley sub-region normally joins South after the first 10 minutes of the 6pm programme. Southampton and Oxford are 90-odd miles away from each other, with nothing in common. Which city would you put on the screen without being accused of bias or lack of 'localness' to the majority of a very wide area?
At least this Henley bridge is neutral, considering it is outside all 3 subregions. I'm sure a lot of viewers don't even know where the view is of anyway- I didn't! And I'm also sure that a lot of casual viewers don't even care!

O

Central has Birmingham and Nottingham as views, but their programmes are normally fully split. There is a generic newsroom view when they are panregional.

65 miles, it's not as far as 90, but I agree with your other points !

Well say Weymouth or Poole to Banbury then. The furthest west to furthest north parts of the region. Must
be over 100 miles! 😀

Oh it is. This week I'm away from home working in North Oxfordshire. Last week I was on holiday in mid Dorset. I live in Hampshire. In all three cases I put the telly on, and it's Meridian!

(July 2006)