VICTORY: Mirror wins News At Ten campaign.
NEWS AT TEN will be back in the New Year following a stunning victory for the campaigning Mirror.The famous News At Ten bongs rang out for the last time on March 5 last year. Last night, broadcasters and politicians praised our triumphant 18-month battle to restore the nation's favourite bulletin.
The Mirror was backed by 30,000 readers, TV chiefs and Premier Tony Blair.
The dramatic U-turn by ITV bosses will bring a 20-minute bulletin from Monday to Thursday - with the Nightly News at 11pm scrapped.
Flexible programming will allow ITV to move the news to a later slot one night a week and make way for long dramas, sport or films. Culture Secretary Chris Smith welcomed the climbdown which followed a dramatic slump in ITV news ratings.
Liberal Democrat culture spokesman Norman Baker said: "Congratulations to The Mirror."
ITN veteran Sir Alastair Burnet declared: "The Mirror campaign accurately reflected public opinion and has been significant in bringing about this decision." The stage is now set for a ratings war with BBC1 which is to move its late evening news from 9pm to 10.
It is not yet known whether the new News At Ten will be hosted by popular anchorman Sir Trevor McDonald, but both he and Dermot Murnaghan are expected to remain as the channel's top news presenters.
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| Author: | Methven, Nicola |
|---|---|
| Publication: | The Mirror (London, England) |
| Date: | Sep 22, 2000 |
| Words: | 221 |
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