SOME of the south's leading business figures and politicians were present at the official opening of Meridian TV's space-age regional television centre in Hampshire.

The £6.5m digital-age facility at the Forum One office at Solent Business Park, Whiteley, near Fareham, is being lauded as the most advanced of its kind in Europe.

As reported by the Daily Echo on Saturday, the opening, which was attended by 120 VIPs, saw business and politics clashing in public.

Charles Allen, the boss of Meridian parent company ITV Plc, criticised the government in front of media minister Lord McIntosh of Haringey, who was there to unveil a plaque.

Mr Allen hit out at £200m worth of analogue broadcasting taxes that the Treasury imposed on the media giant last year.

He added: "Frankly if all the ITV regions could offer the levels of performance that the team here in Meridian achieve, I'd be a very happy man."

More than 140 people are based at Meridian's new base following relocation late last year from the outdated and sprawling studios at a seven-acre site at Northam, Southampton.

Last Friday's opening was also held against a background of mounting speculation of an ITV takeover, with shares in the newly streamlined company rising in value by ten per cent.

Media heavyweights Greg Dyke, former Meridian owner Lord Hollick, who lives in the New Forest, near Fordingbridge, and Stephen Grabiner, the former head of the Daily Telegraph, are rumoured to be planning a £6 billion takeover bid for ITV.

Mr Dyke was a familiar face to staff in Southampton - he was director of programmes at Meridian precursor TVS.

The move to Whiteley from Southampton saw 75 staff lose their jobs following the £4billion tie-up between Carlton and Meridian-owning Granada, which created ITV Plc.

Journalists and producers operate digital desktop editing, provided by London-based broadcast supplier Avid, which uses server-based technology.

Read The Dream Factory - a history of the Meridian Northam studios and a look at the new studios at Whiteley. Available from all good newsagents for £10.