REGIONAL news on ITV is in for a shake-up if a planned merger between broadcasters Carlton and Granada is given the go-ahead tomorrow.

Meridian Broadcasting - owned by Granada - says viewers should have a better localised news service once the dust has settled.

The pledge comes as trade secretary Patricia Hewitt gives her expected approval to the £4 billion merger, creating a single, dominant ITV company.

Meridian, which has its headquarters at Northam in Southampton, is currently committed to providing a regional TV news service.

Its news service, Meridian Tonight, fronted by popular presenter Fred Dinenage attracts nearly half a million viewers each evening.

Other programmes run by Meridian also have a strong regional focus, such as Country Ways.

A Meridian spokesman sought to reassure viewers that the merger would not impact upon news diversity.

She said: "They should not notice anything different and in time they should see an improved news service."

It is understood that the merged company, called ITV plc, will put a particular emphasis on news.

Currently the ITV networks, which are wholly reliant on advertising, are committed to non-profitable, public service programming, such as news.

But there are growing concerns that these honourable obligations could be torn up if ITV plc is taken over by a US company.

Earlier this month Haim Saban, a US-based billionaire, fuelled speculation about an American buy-out when he said he would make an approach if the merger goes ahead.

Critics hostile to American ownership warn of the prospect of dumbing down in programming, with news sacrificed on the altar of commercialism and the introduction of low-budget shows.

Canny bosses could also wriggle out of its public service obligation by switching news from analogue to digital.

Michael Grade, the former head of Channel 4, said: "To sit here in 2003 and pretend ITV has anything to do with public-service broadcasting any more is a joke."

Critics also point out that any foreign takeover of ITV plc would create a Sky TV-situation, where only international news is aired.

More than 300 Meridian staff at the base in Northam, by the River Itchen, are adjusting not only to the prospect of new owners, but uncertainty over their location.

As previously reported by Business South, the land it's situated on is prime real estate, worth more than £5 million.

Barratt Homes has already bought part of the waterfront site, which in terms of its broadcast history dates back to 1958.

The word on the street is on Meridian relocating to either Chandler's Ford or Winchester, with fast travel links on the M27 and M3.

Meridian is the ITV contractor for the south and south-east of England, serving a population of 5.5 million.

It also has news centres and studios at Maidstone, Newbury and Brighton.