ITV to discuss options for 3sixtymedia with Peel

At the end of my previous post I asked...

So it seems to me that ITV will be using the Peel Media studio block for everything except Corrie and the region news. This has got to be good news for Peel but do they have all the capacity to cover all of ITVs studio and post production requirements that they currently have in Quay Street. It is certainly not clear from what has been released today. Anyone at Quay Street shed an light on this?

Well it seems ITV are at least thinking about the issue. This from the Manchester Evening News...

ITV has confirmed that it is in discussion with Peel Media about options for the future of 3sixtymedia – the joint venture technical services operation formed in conjunction with the BBC. Based in Quay Street, Manchester, the company employs 100 people and was formed through the merger of technical staff from the BBC and ITV in 2000. It provides camera crews, sound technicians and lighting expertise for many of the ITV and BBC shows made in Manchester. Having confirmed a move for Coronation Street and other ITV Granada staff to Peel Media's MediaCityUK site at Salford Quays, ITV says that it is as yet unable to spell out exactly what will become of 3sixtymedia and its employees. An ITV spokesman said: “We will continue to produce our core programming from Quay Street in the medium term with 3sixty. In the longer term, ITV plans to take advantage of the shared studios at Media City using 3sixtymedia staff and we will be discussing options with Peel Media.” ITV insist that there is no “question mark” over the jobs of people working at 3sixtymedia and that redundancies are not among the options being considered. Any reduction in head count – or indeed terms and conditions – would be controversial, given that 3sixtymedia's employers are largely made of those transferred from ITV Granada and the BBC in Manchester. One possibility is that 3sixtymedia staff could be merged into Peel Media's new studio business. Joe Livesey, Manchester representative with the broadcasting union, BECTU, said that she currently had no concerns members at 3sixtymedia. We have a good relationship with ITV,” she added.

I am afraid I cannot see how this adds up. Surely Peel have done a deal with SIS to provide the facilities and resources and run the Peel studio block so where will the 3sixtymedia staff fit in? I am surprised that Joe Livesey is not concerned. It seems to me there are too many people for too few jobs in not enough studios and production areas. I do hope I am wrong.

ITV finally agree to move from Quay Street to Media City

This has been the longest on/off saga in the history of Media City. But finally they have done it although they won't have a dedicated building like the BBC. I guess they left it too long for that. This is from the official ITV statement...

ITV has reinforced its commitment to production in the north west after agreeing terms with Peel Media Ltd to move the company’s Manchester base to MediaCityUK in Salford Quays in 2012. “Coronation Street is an incredible brand and as we celebrate its 50th anniversary, it’s fantastic news that we are able to invest in the construction of a modern production centre to ensure that the nation’s best loved soap remains at the top of its game for another half a century.” ITV is set to build a bespoke production and studio centre for Coronation Street. The stand alone facility, which will be subject to a long-term lease, would be built by ITV on a 7.7 acre site at Trafford Wharf, adjacent to the Imperial War Museum North and accessed by a new bridge across the waterway to the main MediaCityUK complex.  A dedicated site has also been earmarked for ITV across several floors within MediaCityUK’s Orange Building, providing modern accommodation equipped with the latest technology for ITV Studios’ production and management teams, ITV regional news, and support staff from across the business.

How Do are reporting....

Around 500 Quay Street staff will be involved in the move, which will also see the iconic Coronation Street set being built anew at a fresh production base at Trafford Wharf, next to the Imperial War Museum. Although details are yet to be confirmed - an ITV spokesperson told How-Do that staff would be informed first - it is expected that the firm will take the top seven floors of the University of Salford’s new building at the Peel Media development. This will leave the bottom four floors of the Orange Building, which is designed by Sheppard Robson, to university staff and students.

Back to the official ITV Statement...

The very latest developments in technology and production facilities are set to be incorporated in the new Coronation Street complex. Plans for the site alongside the historic Manchester Ship Canal include a new external film set – built to greater scale than before to equip the soap for the demands of future broadcasting developments, whilst also replicating the original appearance of Weatherfield. The production centre would also include two sound stage buildings, specialist production facilities and offices, dressing rooms and meeting space for production staff and cast.  In addition to the Coronation Street complex, ITV Studios also has the opportunity to take advantage of MediaCityUK’s dedicated production facilities – one of the largest high definition studio complexes in Europe.  ITV’s regional news team will broadcast from a dedicated studio within the Orange building.

So it seems to me that ITV will be using the Peel Media studio block for everything except Corrie and the region news. This has got to be good news for Peel but do they have all the capacity to cover all of ITVs studio and post production requirements that they currently have in Quay Street. It is certainly not clear from what has been released today. Anyone at Quay Street shed an light on this?

ITV to incorporate social media into TV news bulletins

In todays Guardian Newspaper in and amongst all the pre budget stories is an interesting announcement from ITV news about involving viewers through social media...

During this evening's 6.30pm ITV News, viewers will be invited to join the nationwide project The Cuts: Your Stories.

From those who get in touch, ITV will recruit what it calls a "giant panel", focusing on public service workers such as GPs, teachers, refuse collectors, people who deliver care for the elderly and the disabled, librarians and swimming instructors.

The ITV News editor, Deborah Turness, said: "Government cuts will dominate the news agenda for a long time to come, and our panel will show their direct impact on people from all walks of life."
Turness added that the leaders' debates during the general election campaign earlier this year had spurred on ITV News to incorporate social media into bulletins.
"The debates brought social media out of the teenage bedroom and into the living room. So many people enjoyed the experience of watching TV whilst chatting online it became a mainstream experience.
"We wanted to build on that in our news programmes and use social media as a platform to offer useful information to our viewers whilst harvesting their take on living in 'austerity Britain'."

It will interesting to watch how this experiment works to engage and involve the audience through social media.