Geldof on the future of northern broadcasting

Bob Geldof has an intersting article in today’s Belfast Telegraph in which he argues that Northern Ireland should be included in the Digital Britain report’s plans for UK regional news.

Does this sound like a stitch-up to you? Yesterday the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee of MPs met in Westminster to discuss the future of the news you watch on TV – who gets to make it and choose the stories, the journalists who edit it.

I think that’s quite important. Particularly if you believe in democracy. Particularly in a part of the UK where democracy has been the most tested and challenged.

Particularly if you believe in a competitive media industry that creates new jobs critical to Northern Ireland’s growth. Pretty important, then.

Except, of the two groups offering to make the regional news you watch on Channel 3, only one was actually invited to speak to the committee. You guessed – UTV….

….You would think that the Committee would at least want to investigate the options for the viewing public by hearing them at first-hand. But they did not.

The only potential bidders the MPs heard from in person were those who’ve already been providing the service for the past 50 years. This is disgraceful.