ITV Meridian is the holder of the ITV franchise for the South and South East of England.
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ITV Meridian is the holder of the ITV franchise for the South and South East of England.
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Meridian Broadcasting Ltd was one of several ITV plc-owned regional companies to have its legal name changed on 29 December 2006, when it became ITV Meridian Ltd.
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Today, ITV Meridian Broadcasting operates from studios in Whiteley, Hampshire, producing regional news services for three sub-regions, covering the South Coast of England, the South East of England and the Thames Valley.
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Meridian Broadcasting intended to operate as a publisher broadcaster, meaning that the majority of programmes would be commissioned from independent producers rather than produced in house.
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Meridian Broadcasting launched at midnight on 1 January 1993 replacing Television South, with the programme Meridian – The First 10 Minutes, a 10-minute outside broadcast from Winchester Cathedral presented by Debbie Thrower and previewing the station's forthcoming output.
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Meridian Broadcasting advertised their presence as the new ITV contractor heavily; promotions began appearing on TVS several weeks before the launch and the new company's logo was incorporated into the product for the first advert shown on the station – the special edition Ford Fiesta Meridian Broadcasting, available through Southern Ford dealers.
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In 1999, plans emerged of a merger between UNM and rival Carlton Television; however, these talks failed when it appeared that Meridian Broadcasting would have to be sold off as a condition of the deal.
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The plans resulted in over half of Meridian Broadcasting's existing staff being made redundant; all employees wishing to remain with the company were obliged to re-apply for jobs.
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At present the only local programming that ITV Meridian Broadcasting provides for the region is the regional news programme.
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When Meridian Broadcasting originally won the franchise in 1991, its plans were to purchase buildings, not unlike its current arrangement today: with a small studio for continuity and local news.
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Meridian Broadcasting took the opportunity to buy the Southampton studios from TVS.
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In 2004, Meridian Broadcasting closed their Northam studios and moved to a unit in a business park in Whiteley.
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Additionally, Meridian Broadcasting originally opened and operated a new studio complex at Newbury for its Meridian Broadcasting West operation.
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When Meridian Broadcasting launched, it divided its news operations into three separate sub regions.
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From September 2014 Meridian Broadcasting's identity was revived by an announcement immediately prior to the evening edition of ITV Meridian Broadcasting News.
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Meridian Broadcasting was originally intended to function as a publisher-broadcaster, commissioning most programmes from independent producers and with in-house production largely restricted to regional news, sport and current affairs.
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However, over time and as its ownership changed, Meridian Broadcasting began to make a number of regional and networked programmes itself.
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