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TV coverage of politics in Wales to decline

Wales is to scrap its late-night political show Sharp End with current affairs programme Wales This Week now covering Welsh politics.

Whilst scrapping its main political programme, ITV has stated that it will be retaining its political team of three full-time staff based at the National Assembly and creating a new role of political editor.

However, if they say that viewing figures are the cause of this scrapping of their only Welsh politics programme, then don't put it on at 11.30 on Thursday night.

Whilst Assembly researchers stumbling from the Eli Jenkins may get home in time to watch it, the majority of the population won't switch on as they will be in bed (or watching Question Time on the BBC).

ITV needed to be bold and create a new programme which embraces politics in Wales. Unfortunately, they have gone down the simple route of restructuring despite being highly criticised by the Assembly's not devoting enough resources to Welsh public broadcasting.

Of course, any decline in political coverage on the television will make the blogosphere more important and relevant and I hope that this will result in more politically oriented blogs will emerge in Wales. Perhaps, the new political editor may wish to start this new trend off when she is appointed.

Comments

Anonymous said…
she?
August 01, 2008 2:31 pm
Anonymous said…
I feel sorry for you - obsessing about the Sharp End like this. Who gives a stuff? No one in North Wales that's for sure! Most people up here can't even receive ITV Wales - we have to watch Granada - who incidentally are not averse to covering Welsh politics from time to time. Wherever you live in Wales, there is one constant - ITV is a shambles. Deal with it!
August 01, 2008 5:07 pm
Anonymous said…
An independant media (as far as that is possible) is very important. The decline of ITV in Wales leaves us with the state funded television channel as our mainstay. That is not totally healthy in my view.
August 02, 2008 7:07 pm
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