ITV reconsiders regional news cuts

BSkyB, the pay TV group, yesterday dropped the protracted legal battle over its 17.9 per cent stake in ITV and agreed to sell down to less than 7.5 per cent.

Archie Norman, the new chairman of ITV, is understood to be reconsidering the broadcaster's decision to dump regional news, as part of a wider strategic review of all the channel's activities.

The move would potentially affect current government plans to test independently financed news consortiums in several regions including Wales, Scotland and the Borders, which would produce regional bulletins for ITV1. Eight bidders are currently in a tender process for three pilot schemes with a decision expected next Thursday.