In April 1999, the opt-out was extended to cover Dumfries and Galloway and a dedicated Scottish news bulletin was introduced on weekday lunchtimes.
[6] On 24 April 2008, a campaign to save the ITV Border news operation arrived in London with a petition of 9000 signed by viewers.
[7] On 26 September 2008, Ofcom authorised ITV's plans to save £40m a year by making regional programming cutbacks.
[11][12][13] Lookaround retains an office in Carlisle where the news editor, planning and online teams are based along with correspondents, but as of February 2009, the programme is transmitted from ITV Tyne Tees' studios at The Watermark, Gateshead.
The district reporters announced were Victoria Hoe in Kendal, Hannah Lomas in Carlisle, Lee Madan in Selkirk, Stuart Pollitt in Whitehaven, Olivia Richwald in Dumfries and Kathryn Samson in Edinburgh.
Two members of the UK Government – Scottish Secretary of State Michael Moore and deputy David Mundell (both MPs in the Border region) – backed ITV's proposal for a Border current affairs programme while the Scottish Government called for STV programming (including Scotland Tonight) to be simulcast.
The regulator also ordered ITV to reopen the former Border Scotland service previously utilized for split news bulletins and simulcasts of select STV programming.
On 14 June 2013, it was reported Lookaround would be restored to a full 30-minute programme along with ITV recruiting journalists for an Autumn launch.
All short bulletins – including daytime and weekend updates – are now exclusive to the Border region, however with the minutage decreased.
On 23 November 2020, it was announced the main 6pm programme would return to two presenters from that night, with a slightly modified studio to allow for social distancing.