This February sees the launch of six out of nine of ITV’s new regional services, which now incorporate wider geographical areas.

ITV announced last year that it was reducing 17 news regions to nine, axing 430 jobs from its regional news division, and expecting to save £40 million from the process.

From 9 February, one region, Meridian Tonight, has converged broadcasts for three separate sub-regions into two larger ones, now making it the largest region outside of London. Axed regions no longer have a dedicated 30 minute news slot on their area.

[lnk|http://www.featuresexec.com/publications/info_features.php?pubid=9046&|_self|Meridian Tonight]