IT is a cause of great concern that ITV is to be allowed significantly to reduce its commitment to making regional programmes.

It is a detrimental step which has been taken with indecent haste by Ofcom and it is a blow to creativity and influence in the regions.

It means the North-East will lose out on 21st century broadcasting and the move should have at least waited until there was a commitment from the BBC to make up for the shortfall.

The North-East now has to look to the future and strive to capitalise on the rapidly-changing digital age.

Ofcom plans to establish a "Public Service Publisher" as an alternative to the BBC, with an annual spending power of £300m over ten years.

It would provide a massive cultural and economic boost to the region where it is based and there is no reason why it shouldn't be the North-East.

Despite Ofcom's contradictory decision to allow the reduction in non-news regional programmes, there is a general drive towards moving public services out of London.

The PSP would therefore be highly unlikely to be located in the capital.

The North-East has the creative talent and technical know-how to provide a high quality alternative public service broadcasting operation.

We are heartened to discover that moves are already under way to push the North-East's case.

It is a glorious opportunity which we must all work hard to grasp.