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8:00am Sunday 3rd December 2006
A NEW regional news programme for Oxfordshire, set to replace ITV's Abingdon-based Central News South, goes live tomorrow at 6pm.
Thames Valley Tonight will be co-presented by Wesley Smith and Mary Green, presenter of ITV's Meridian Tonight.
The Central News studios in the Abingdon Business Park will be retained to form the centrepiece of the new service, which covers an area stretching from Witney to Windsor and from Winchester up to Banbury.
Mr Smith, who has presented Central News since 1989, said: "Viewers will get more news relevant to their daily lives.
"Our commitment to cover anything of interest in Oxfordshire will be stronger than ever."
Ms Green said: "I am delighted to be involved in the new programme. It's a wonderful region."
Central News presenter Hannah Shellswell will still be part of the show, co-hosting the Friday programme and taking on a series of challenges called Can I Cut It?
The new service is a fusion of ITV's Central South and Meridian West sub-regions.
Viewers who are tuned to Central's Oxford transmitter will automatically receive Thames Valley Tonight.
Head of news Robin Britton said: "Despite viewers having the choice of sometimes hundreds of channels we are convinced there is a need for a news programme with a strong local identity in tune with local people."
David Aston, says...
3:12am Thu 7 Dec 06
David, says...
2:59pm Wed 13 Dec 06
angie, says...
10:45pm Wed 13 Dec 06
Julie, says...
6:23pm Thu 14 Dec 06
John Stevens, says...
6:34pm Thu 14 Dec 06
Michael Hunt, says...
5:12pm Tue 19 Dec 06
johnhanby, says...
7:41pm Tue 19 Dec 06
Jenny Tatman, says...
6:16pm Tue 9 Jan 07
D Tatman, says...
6:22pm Tue 9 Jan 07
d gorman, says...
12:15pm Wed 17 Jan 07
j mackernan, says...
7:10pm Sun 4 Feb 07
g. stevens, woodley says...
6:22pm Tue 13 Mar 07
J H, Oxford says...
6:07pm Tue 15 May 07
JOHN WATT, SOUTHAMPTON says...
11:42am Fri 22 Jun 07
JOHN, SOUTHAMPTON says...
12:13pm Fri 22 Jun 07
JOHN, SOUTHAMPTON says...
6:02pm Fri 20 Jul 07
JOHN, SOUTHAMPTON says...
8:01pm Wed 1 Aug 07
JOHN, SUNNY SOUTHAMPTON says...
7:37am Wed 8 Aug 07
LV, Abingdon says...
2:24pm Sat 25 Aug 07
VR, says...
4:57pm Tue 4 Sep 07
Michael Hunt wrote:I live in Swindon and I hate Thames Valley Tonight with a passion! I get it on Sky and Terrestrial. It covers such a HUGE area it isn't local at all. I have never considered Swindon to be in the Thames Valley. I SHOULD be receiving ITV West! I don't care about Milton Keynes or Northampton and don't know why they're included in TVT. I think of Thames Valley as Berks and parts of Oxon. At least with BBC I receive Points West, only on Sky though. With freeview/terrestrial I get BBC South which I also think is a bit of a huge region but it will do. There's also a BBC Oxford which is a bit more local but I don't understand is it part of BBC South or what? :-)
You can add the names of my wife and I to the voices of dissent.We live in Bracknell and all you get on TVT is Swindon this and Oxford that. My solution after the demise of Meridian tonight is the BBC main news at 6 then South Today. Does no one rver consider the viewers.
JOHN, SOUTHAMPTON says...
5:20pm Tue 25 Dec 07
James Cresswell, Cheltenham says...
12:53pm Mon 7 Jan 08
jay, Swindon says...
9:29pm Thu 24 Jan 08
Gillie Coghlan, Burford says...
3:37pm Wed 6 Feb 08
gerard, milton keynes says...
10:50pm Tue 22 Jul 08
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Angie, says...
7:06pm Tue 5 Dec 06