Pamela Ballantine
Encyclopedia
Pamela Ballantine is a freelance Northern Irish
television presenter, best known for her 27 year career at UTV
.
as a secretary, and gradually moved on to reading and reporting for the Downtown newsroom, as well as presenting her own programme and covering for other programmes on the station. She later worked for BBC Radio Ulster
as a morning presenter before moving to Ulster Television as a continuity announcer and news presenter in 1983.
Ballantine moved from the continuity department to become a regular newsreader on UTV Live at its launch in 1993. She went on to present and report for the nightly magazine programme, UTV Life, from March 1999 to February 2009.
She was also a regular presenter and reporter for RPM. and presented UTV game shows Ulster Schools Quiz and Hot Pursuits in 1994.
In 2009, Ballantine returned to the UTV continuity department and became a relief weather presenter at the station. This followed press reports claiming UTV management offered Ballantine the option of accepting a different role at the station or taking a redundancy severance package from the company.
A year later, her staff contract with the station was not renewed. Press reports claimed UTV told Ballantine that her role was no longer available and had offered her freelance work, which she later accepted.
Ballantine continues to freelance for the station as a continuity announcer and ambassador, occasionally presenting the weather or newsreading.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
television presenter, best known for her 27 year career at UTV
UTV
UTV is a television channel based in the UK region of Northern Ireland. The channel is the Channel 3 or Independent Television licensee for Northern Ireland and is operated by UTV Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of UTV Media.- Terrestrial :* Analogue: Normally tuned to 3 * Freeview : 3...
.
Broadcasting career
Ballantine began her broadcasting career at Downtown RadioDowntown Radio
Downtown Radio is an Adult Contemporary music radio station based in Newtownards, County Down, that serves all of Northern Ireland using a network of FM and AM transmitters.- History :...
as a secretary, and gradually moved on to reading and reporting for the Downtown newsroom, as well as presenting her own programme and covering for other programmes on the station. She later worked for BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Ulster is one of two Northern Irish BBC radio stations, the other being BBC Radio Foyle located in the city of Derry. BBC Radio Ulster is located at Broadcasting House in the Ormeau Avenue area of Belfast city centre...
as a morning presenter before moving to Ulster Television as a continuity announcer and news presenter in 1983.
Ballantine moved from the continuity department to become a regular newsreader on UTV Live at its launch in 1993. She went on to present and report for the nightly magazine programme, UTV Life, from March 1999 to February 2009.
She was also a regular presenter and reporter for RPM. and presented UTV game shows Ulster Schools Quiz and Hot Pursuits in 1994.
In 2009, Ballantine returned to the UTV continuity department and became a relief weather presenter at the station. This followed press reports claiming UTV management offered Ballantine the option of accepting a different role at the station or taking a redundancy severance package from the company.
A year later, her staff contract with the station was not renewed. Press reports claimed UTV told Ballantine that her role was no longer available and had offered her freelance work, which she later accepted.
Ballantine continues to freelance for the station as a continuity announcer and ambassador, occasionally presenting the weather or newsreading.