BBC plans for 'ultra-local' TV 'threaten regional press'

In one sense you can tell that there is real anxiety amongst the proprietors of regional newspapers since the fortunes of newspapers in general have declined noticeably in recent years; some people are now electing to regularly read news on websites instead with only the occasional newspaper purchased. Why spend lots of time and money reading what is essentially yesterday's news?

I won't name names here, but there is a certain local community website which was warned off taking paid advertising because that would break the monopoly of a local free (print) newspaper. Although that's an extreme and rare example, it shows that the commercial marketplace isn't exactly a perfect model of innovation; if established media can successfully block 'new' media competition then they will do so.

The fact of the matter is that unless existing local media groups are prepared to produce local news programming on a regular basis and have a sustainable financial model, there is no reason whatsoever to prevent the BBC from producing short ultra-local news bulletins. Local commercial television stations in particular tend to lose money with only a small number of these stations remaining viable.

And it isn't as if the BBC will be cannibalising local advertisers unlike the so-called 'threat' posed by a local community news website. Or the 'threat' posed by a local commercial TV station which if the doomsayers were correct would annihilate all local newspapers in the area as a result, but Southampton is already on its second TV station and the local newspapers are still in business.