[DTV]

From what Simon McCoy said in an interview it was quite difficult to get the regions to agree to do the Nationwide spot on Afternoon Live, too busy prepping the programme etc. Apparently Harry Gration agreeing to do it was something of a catalyst for the rest to get onboard.

A programme in the afternoon would certainly take a bit of time out of the prep for the main 18:30 programme, but only having to do it every few weeks would be a lot less disruptive than a daily feature. It might work better as an evening review programme in the 20:00 slot. That would be less disruptive to prepping for the main magazine and would be less subject to breaking news (that I suspect would be the biggest logistical hurdle to doing NC programming from the regions). There are some issues, the tight turnaround for BBC Wales and Newyddion, but I don't think it's too out-there of an idea.

I do worry that some think I'm a big cheerleader for the merger, when I'm really not. I'm just trying to come up with alternative ideas that would keep a decent level of UK-specific output while still being realistic about the cuts and the need to protect the additional income from BBC World News. There certainly are clear options that the BBC could take to maintain a good few hours of UK-only output while not incurring any/many additional costs compared to the initial proposals, it's why I'm so sceptical that the total merger will go through - it would be an act of supreme self-sabotage not go down at least some of these routes.