Originally Posted by irishfeen:
“UTVI have used a few reports from their northern reporters in UTVNI already but they will probably follow RTÉ in ending any major interest in the north - there is little interest in NI politics down here now as peace prevails. I presume UTVNI are not limited to just news from the north? .. maybe becoming like their southern counterpart (including international news) might improve the parochial feel. There will always be a UTVNI as long as the UTV Media group and the border exists, as you say it would be counterproductive due to politics to do it.
It will be interesting if they will show Pat Kenny's new chat show on UTVNI. I would imagine they will try to broadcast homemade content north and south where possible.. the reason I think their main base might move south in future years is because if the can challenge RTÉ they will may hay and you have to remember UTVI with encryption can go for any Irish rights (including those on the government FTA list) they want (US programming, major film rights, Champions League, Heineken Cup, Premier League etc.) ... it all depends on what their plan is. ITV programming will make them money but to make major money they will need to take RTÉ on.”
From what UTV news i see they give Donegal a fair bit of coverage but i think thats because most, if not all, of it can pick UTVNI up fairly easily. At least they used to before switch over, and i assume its pretty popular.
If there is a major story down south theyll squeeze it in somewhere mainly if it has any bearing on up here, but as with you with us down south, theres not that much of an appetite for most RoI news here. Its parochial because thats what it needs to be here and i think it fills its niche well enough for its audience.
Youre used to one news bulletin to coverage all news on your channels down there, in the UK we've had nearly 60 years of getting the national and international news from the ITN and BBC for the majority of that time until C4, 5 and satellite came along anyway, and then getting the local news from the regional stations. Usually straight after.
Its just the way it works here. Its a different model from what most of you down there must be used to. I cant see UTV spending the money, effort or using the airtime to change to something there is not really any call for.
As for the Pat Kenny thing, unless anyone lives in an area that could pick up RTE and watched it regularly, i doubt if any of your TV personalities would be known very much.
Ive never lived anywhere that picked up RTE in the past. though ive always lived around the greater Belfast area, when i wasnt living on the mainland, dare say south of Banbridge or somewhere like that or west of the Bann its different, but the north east corner is pretty much RTE free or has been in the past.
I wouldnt know Pat Kenny if he parachuted through my roof dressed in a dayglo yellow parachuting suit with 'Im Pat Kenny' written all over it.