What will public service broadcasting look like in 2012 – post digital switch-off? Yesterday industry regulator Ofcom announced its review, a consultation which will end in 2009. Today ITV‘s Executive Chairman Michael Grade spelled out the result of his review – free, original entertainment – which will begin as soon as he can get Ofcom‘s approval to dump local news commitments.

ITV has managed to get CRR looked at, now it’s squeezing the most sensitive of public service commitments – local news. What will be the quid pro quo for keeping the news? If you were running a local ITV news outfit you might think to start getting politicians of all shades on the couch from tonight…every night.