Points West studio

I agree - it just wouldn't work.

Devon and Cornwall are absolutely huge in themselves, but to bolt Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire would be madness.

although the current situation doesnt seem ideal, i cant think of a quick/cheap solution, one thing i would add is that the midlands today area shouldnt be enlarged southwards - they already cover a bigger area than central news west, and stories south of worcester very rarely get a mention as it is now.

if anything, in an ideal world you would expand the coverage area of BBC West to include the areas covered by Central News south and HTV west - and have a sub-opt for the home counties ... killing 3 birds with 1 stone:

- enlarging the area of BBC West
- taking the homecounties away from BBC South
- taking the south midlands from BBC Midlands

i think theyd have to contrive a new name for the region (as oxfordshire isnt remotely 'west'), and im not sure if it would be technicly possible, although Central and HTV mange?

Not at all related to Points West - but I would create a larger BBC region taking in the South Today Oxford opt (from the Oxford transmitter - same area as Central South from Abingdon?) and the area covered by the Hannington transmitter (which is the area covered by Meridian from Newbury)

This would create a BBC Thames Valley region - with a region probably large enough to sustain a full half hour (well if South East Today can...) Technically it would be possible - though the BBC would need to feed Hannington directly (as Meridian do) - rather than it broadcasting an off-air feed (from Rowridge?) as currently .

now THAT is a good idea!

Well - I'm sure if Central and Meridian were owned by the same ITV supercompany then they would have merged Central Abingdon and Meridian Newbury.

It just makes sense - the areas have loads in common - and a lot more in common with each other than Southampton (in BBC terms...) I guess the BBC couldn't justify creating three full regions out of one when they re-jigged the old South East region into the London, South East and Oxford (sub) regions.

Being a native of the parts - Swindon had very little to do with Oxford, so the south today opt really is a little crap -- since half the town gets South Today, not Points West ...

moan moan moan

Bit like Luton and Milton Keynes getting their local news from Norwich... (Well the Cambridge sub-opt helped a bit!)

can i just go back to the start of this thread... ie. the picture of the Points West... News West... oh no, the viewers still think we're Points West so let's change our name again... Points West studio...

Is that one of Steve Brodie's medals I can see glistening on the wall???

As far as the region goes... as half your viewers are in South Wales, why don't you call it Points West Boyo, and include news at least from Newport?

.

Ah, we're back to Mr Bwodie!

We got us a convoy!

HEhehe - disgruntled ex-employee

Or if Look North was on the border with Wales, Look-you North!