Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Berwick’s Conservative Candidate, pledged to support local newspapers from the threat posed by the BBC’s plans to start producing local video-on-demand news.
Anne-Marie wrote to the BBC Trust Chairman, Sir Michael Lyons, calling on the BBC Trust to reject the BBC’s proposal to spend £23 million a year on new local video on-demand services, which could kill off local newspapers desperately trying to cope with a tough advertising climate.
Conservatives have launched a much bolder vision for local newspapers, one which would enable them to invest in local TV. Conservatives want Ofcom to take all the steps it can to encourage the development of a genuinely local TV sector. Local newspaper groups would be ideal partners in any expansion of local TV in their areas and the result would be positive for local communities and local businesses alike.
Anne-Marie said “I don’t believe that the BBC should be allowed to spend licence fee payers money to damage local news services and stamp out fledgling completion in local TV. My local papers – the Berwick Advertiser, Northumberland Gazette and Morpeth Herald, along with the Newcastle Journal – all provide really local news which is a great source of pride and interest to the local communities which they serve.
In an increasingly difficult advertising market why should local newspapers have to face the additional threat of subsidised competition from the BBC? I don’t think they should and I have written to the BBC Trust asking them to take a strong stance on this proposal.”
Commenting on the news today that the BBC Trust has rejected the BBC’s plans to launch the Local Video On Demand service, Shadow Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt said "We welcome the BBC Trust’s report. These plans were totally flawed and would have done enormous damage to a struggling local newspaper industry. However, the real test is whether we see the proposals arrive back in a modified form, or whether - as I hope - they are dropped altogether. Rather than constantly trying to expand into new markets, the BBC should be focusing on getting right its core public service broadcasting offering."
