Media in Manchester

[iamafreeman]

Originally Posted by aek-94

I think if the network/affiliate model of local television which is used in the United States and Canada was used, then it might work; were local television stations across the country would network programmes across the day, but opt-out for a few hours for local news and programmes. But seeing as the government are scrapping the idea of a spine/national network, and going with the standalone station option instead, the prospects of the stations surviving and not collapsing like past attempts of local stations have is quite slim. Although at least the Manchester station will have a better chance of survival than the stations in Bangor, Mold, Scarborough, and some of the Scottish areas selected will.

And yeah, I think Trafford is included in the Manchester station coverage area. I'm pretty sure that all the boroughs in Greater Manchester are covered, except Wigan that is, which is covered by the Liverpool station. On the map though, there seems to be some black spots in Tameside and Stockport, but I'm pretty sure that will be fixed upon launch, even if that means creating a new relay transmitter for eastern Greater Manchester - because seeing as its Jeremy Hunt's pet project, I think he'll do everything possible to make it work.

Some good points in your post.

Parts of eastern GM don't receive the full freeview channels now and there are no plans that I know of to address that issue (I could be wrong about that however) so I can't see why money is going to be spent for a local station if national channels aren't available.

[aek-94]

Originally Posted by iamafreeman

Parts of eastern GM don't receive the full freeview channels now and there are no plans that I know of to address that issue (I could be wrong about that however) so I can't see why money is going to be spent for a local station if national channels aren't available.

Yeah, I know what you know; but you never know, the start of local television might compel Ofcom to fix the problems which eastern GM has with national television station reception too.

[WatcherZero]

The Channel M transmissions didnt reach to most of Trafford and Stockport so if they are covered in this new channel reception might be a toss up depending on local conditions.

[ashley b]

Originally Posted by aek-94

Yeah, I know what you know; but you never know, the start of local television might compel Ofcom to fix the problems which eastern GM has with national television station reception too.

It's not OfComs problem. The missing channels will be on the commercial muxes, and it is the owners of the muxes who would have to pay for these muxes to be added to the relay transmitters (currently only the channels carried on the 3 public services muxes are broadcast from the relay transmitters).

They have decided that it is not commercially viable to add the technology to the relay teansmitters when there is little gain in the number of viewers. the 80 main trasmitter sites cover 90% of the population, the remaining 1075 relay sites only take the coverage up to 98.5% of the population.

[flange]

Waterloo Road heads to Scotland

Tuesday 23 August 2011

BBC One’s Waterloo Road will shut the doors of its Rochdale school for the final time this year as it leaves the North West to begin filming in Scotland.

Now shooting its seventh series in Lancashire, the show, produced by Shed Productions will relocate to an “as yet unidentified” location in Scotland in April, to initially film 50 one-hour episodes over 2 years.

The final series set in Rochdale will be broadcast this Autumn and in Spring 2012, with a “dramatic and explosive storyline.”

“As part of our ongoing commitment to establishing a drama base in Scotland I asked Shed whether they would be interested in relocating future series of Waterloo Road to their home country. Whilst sad to leave Rochdale they immediately saw the potential of the new stories they could tell, as well as being excited about putting down roots in their native Scotland. I am sure fans will love what Shed have planned – it will remain the show our audience love,” said Ben Stephenson, controller, BBC Drama Commissioning.

"I would like to pay tribute to Rochdale and the local community who have taken the hit series to their hearts over the past seven years and saw it triumph at this year's National TV Awards to win most popular drama. Getting drama right in the North is hugely important to me and next year demonstrates this commitment and investment with five new BBC One titles launching – The Fuse, Syndicate, Prisoners' Wives, Anthony And Cleopatra and Savage – plus a second series of Jimmy McGovern's Accused."

BBC North director, Peter Salmon has echoed Stephenson's thoughts, bidding the series a “fond farewell” on his blog.

“The North continues to inspire the very best with a strong slate of new and promising dramas.

"Brand new to CBBC is The 4 O'Clock Club. Two brothers - teacher Nathan and pupil Josh - clash over the younger brother's dream of becoming a rap star. Currently in production in Bolton, the show mixes music and drama and stars former rapper turned comedy actor Doc Brown. Incidentally, 'club' in the title is the nickname of the detention room where the two brothers seem to spend most of their time. It's Flight of the Conchords for a kids' audience.

"Also coming back to CBBC are Young Dracula and Tracy Beaker Returns. Both are big with the CBBC audience and it's good to see them set in Liverpool and Newcastle respectively. Who could have foreseen back in 2002 that Jacqueline Wilson's original story about a feisty young girl in a care home would be such an abiding success with young audiences? That's innovation for you.

"And this Christmas CBBC will be unwrapping The Lost Christmas. Filmed in Manchester and starring Eddie Izzard, it's a heart-warming story about one man's unique talent to transform the lives of five ordinary people whose lives have been affected by decisions they made in the past.”

New peaktime dramas are The Fuse, starring Christopher Eccleston and set in Manchester and Savage. The latter drama has been written by BBC Writersroom graduate Stephen Butchard and is set in Liverpool.

http://www.how-do.co.uk/north-west-m...10823100955217

[Irish Blood English Heart]

Will the cast switch from being mancs to being scots then? Wonder how they'll work that with continuity (surely it'll have to change names!).

[WatcherZero]

Any actor not willing to relocate will be replaced, simples. Their going to do series finale where the school burns down and some of the teachers set up a new school in Scotland with the same name.

[flange]

Originally Posted by Irish Blood English Heart

Will the cast switch from being mancs to being scots then? Wonder how they'll work that with continuity (surely it'll have to change names!).

As Watcher said above, the school will close some how and the school will be re set up in Scotland.

It is understood that viewers will see an "explosive" storyline air in early 2012 resulting in a group of existing teachers and pupils setting up a new independent school in Scotland, which will also use the Waterloo Road name.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2...-scotland.html

[future.architect]

Originally Posted by flange

As watched said above, the school will close some how and the school will be re set up in Scotland.

That has got to be one of the most ridiculous storylines I have ever heard!

[flange]

It will end on a dramatic and explosive storyline and then some staff and pupils will decide to open up an Acadamy school under the Waterloo Road name but in Scotland.

Moving to an as yet unidentified location in Scotland from April 2012 to film an initial 50 one-hour episodes over two years, Waterloo Road will provide a significant boost to the Scottish creative sector. A dramatic and explosive storyline will be played out at the end of series 7 (to be broadcast on BBC One this Autumn and in Spring 2012), which will see a number of current teachers and pupils setting up a new independent school in Scotland.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pre...waterloo.shtml

[ashley b]

Well it happened to Grange Hill oncetoo, when it moved from London to Liverpool between series. I don't think there was much reference to it story line wise, you just got an influx of new puplis with Liverpudlian accents one year (that and the school looked completely different).

[Irish Blood English Heart]

Originally Posted by WatcherZero

Any actor not willing to relocate will be replaced, simples. Their going to do series finale where the school burns down and some of the teachers set up a new school in Scotland with the same name.

Jesus wept, that's even worse than the excuse behind the switch between manchester and london on ashes to ashes.

[WatcherZero]

BBC has chosen three locations for Super Hi-Vision Olympic outdoor screens, London, Glasgow and ......Bradford.

[aek-94]

Nowhere in the North West?

[Seasonedbest]

We can't behave ourselves. Then again, neither can the Glaswegians.

[WatcherZero]

Do you think the council will do the one at Castlefield again or not?

[flange]

MEN Media increasingly confident about Greater Manchester Business Week

Friday 02 September 2011

Greater Manchester Business Week (GMBW), the stand-alone business title published by MEN Media, is currently performing ahead of expectations according to the head of business at the company.

Adam Jupp, who joined MEN Media last November, just three weeks ahead of the title’s launch, told How-Do that circulation is now ahead of where it was originally envisaged and most importantly, he maintained that the title is now profitable.

Jupp said that over 13,600 copies of the title are currently being distributed – against an initial target of 12,500.

Copies of the paper are hand delivered to several locations in Manchester city centre, together with a number of bulks at the Airport but Jupp said that the majority were distributed on a controlled circulation basis to named respondents (business figures) across the conurbation.

Jupp was brought on to head up the shape and delivery of MEN Media’s business proposition and he oversees a growing team which includes the paper’s business pages editor Kevin Feddy and GMBW editor Simon Donohue.

Prior to joining MEN Media, Jupp was chief business reporter on Trinity Mirror's North East patch, primarily working on the Journal and the Chronicle.

In addition to the weekly, there has been one special supplement to date: a Top 200 companies special covering the whole North West, which was published in June as a joint offering together with the Daily Post. Jupp said that the team was delighted with the market feedback to that initiative and that they were exploring other ways the two centres (Liverpool and Manchester) could work together in the business arena.

It does appear that after several incarnations over the years with a variety of business titles, MEN Media is getting its product right this time.

A cursory glance over most regional newspapers’ business offerings throws up a predictable and generally uninspiring diet of advertorial and Chamber of Commerce type ‘good news’ stories.

While not conceding that the regional press’ business offering is as mediocre as suggested, Jupp believes what the new title has got right is the product of a “genuine business knowledge and enthusiasm combined with strong newspaper credentials.

“Plus, in this dynamic environment, it is no longer viable to simply sit back and wait for stories. We now actively spend more time getting out and about in the market meeting more people and trying to identify new and interesting business characters and stories.”

It would seem that Crain’s arrival and subsequent departure has in its wake inadvertently helped to stimulate better quality business reportage.

Arguably for the first time in many years, the region’s regional publishing community, hitherto dominated by Insider and EN, is faced with the growing prospect that a new market leader is emerging.

http://www.how-do.co.uk/north-west-m...k-201109021009

[eccles cake]

"Appropiate Adult" about Fred and Rose West starring "The Wires" Dominic West starts tomorrow on itv at nine o'clock. Filmed around Manchester and Salford.
http://lifeofwylie.com/2011/08/25/ap...ed-west-drama/
Looks good. Grim but good.

[LNGCats]

Interesting, frank and honest conversation about the move to Manchester by the BBC on Richard Bacon (5Live) today with Richard & Judy.

Talking about the issues that they had with guests when they were based in Liverpool and what problems 5Live and Breakfast will encounter when they move to the area.

Well worth listeing to, it will be available to download soon I'd have thought. Was about 2:45 - 3pm today, right at the end of the Vic Reeve / Bob Mortimer interview.

[flange]

CBeebies begins broadcasting from MediaCityUK

Monday 05 September 2011

The CBeebies presenters officially made their move up to the home of BBC North at MediaCityUK today, where they will begin broadcasting from their new ‘house’ in the Peel Media development.

Channel controller Kay Benbow welcomed presenters Andy, Alex and Sid to Salford Quays (Cerrie will be joining then at a later date kids, not to worry, Ed) this morning, showing them round the CBeebies ‘house’ set (see below).



This includes a ‘make and do’ area, a huge window onto the outside world and a ‘cosy corner’ for Bedtime Stories to help children (and frazzled parents) wind down at the end of the day.

The BBC also informs us that CBBC will be broadcast for the first time from the MCUK studios today, with Iain and Wigan’s Hacker the Dog getting his teeth into life in the North West.

http://www.how-do.co.uk/north-west-m...10905100955323