Northern Ireland’s media has missed out on the only element of the government’s showpiece Digital Britain report that would have given it a “shot in the arm”, it was claimed last night.

Ministers put forward plans earlier this year for local press and media firms to join forces to deliver regional television news in an attempt to ensure there is an alternative to the BBC.

It announced pilots will be run in Scotland, Wales and an English region but not Northern Ireland. Pressure is now mounting on ministers to reverse the decision.

Last night media leaders from the province gave evidence to parliament’s Northern Ireland Affairs committee, which is holding an inquiry into television broadcasting in the province.

They told MPs Northern Ireland’s media must be at forefront of changes the government is introducing, not the tail-end, particularly in-light of the political landscape.

Trevor Birney, managing director of Below the Radar, an independent Belfast-based production company, said: “Despite paying our licences and our taxes in Northern Ireland we are not to be included in the only element of Digital Britain that would have given Northern Ireland a shot in the arm.”

Written evidence submitted by Paul Connolly, managing editor of Independent News & Media, which publishes the Belfast Telegraph, said: “The provisional decision to rule Northern Ireland out of a pilot programme but grant one in Scotland, Wales and one English region is one we believe is incorrect and we are attempting to elicit a change of heart by the Department for Culture Media and Sport in London.

“We feel firstly that Northern Ireland would be disadvantaged if Digital Britain was in some way salami-sliced and not fully implemented in the same way as in other UK regions.”

He went on to tell the committee: “Speaking as a news consumer it is absolutely vital for our democracy that news continues and we have certainty that news will continue.”

But Yorkshire MP John Grogan asked if Northern Ireland really needed to be a pilot, telling the witnesses that he wished “we had half your provision”.

Richard Williams, chief executive of Northern Ireland Screen, which promotes the local screen industry, told him: “I don’t think we are protesting too much. Northern Ireland is anonymous, genuinely anonymous, and has been for most of my lifetime.”

Northern Ireland productions accounts for 0.03% of UK output and that is set to rise to just 2% by 2012, the committee was told.

MPs were told the presence of Northern Ireland broadcasting must be increased across the UK network.

Rick Hill, chairman of Northern Ireland Screen, said: “Sometimes, to get a Northern Ireland accent on the network is hard work, nevermind a programme on the network that might actually be about Northern Ireland.

“It is one thing to have our accents heard but it is another to have a returning drama series like you might find from other parts of the UK.”