Towns And Cities Compete To Be Local TV Pioneers

Towns and cities across Britain are competing to pioneer the UK’s first local television services, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced.
A map of the country is now published, detailing the 65 towns and cities in which new local TV services could be broadcast. With the first wave of licences due to be awarded next year, the eligible areas are being asked to make the case for why their town should be one of the first to bid to enjoy the service.
The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, Mr Hunt, said: “These new, local TV services will be a fundamental change in how people get information about their own communities, and how they hold their representatives to account.
“There’s a huge appetite for local news and information in communities the length and breadth of the country. I want people to be able to watch television that’s truly relevant to them, about what’s happening where they live and featuring the people they know.
“The first licences will be open to bidders in just a few months. But before then, we need to decide which areas are best placed to pioneer the new service. In deciding the order in which licences should be made available, we need to judge the level of interest from potential broadcasters and audiences, and take the views of companies interested in bidding for the single multiplex licence.”
A published consultation asks the question: Why do you think your town or city should be among the first of those selected to bid for a local TV licence? 

The Government is also seeking views from potential multiplex operators (known as ‘MuxCo’) and asking them which locations they think are necessary to make their model a success.
In the next few weeks Mr Hunt will host a series of events around the country to discuss these issues and how local TV could provide a valuable service in different communities. The summits will be attended by industry, MPs, councillors, regional screen agencies, viewers groups, university and college staff and potential bidders in Birmingham (18 August), Manchester (19 August), Newcastle (24 August), Cardiff (26 August), Glasgow (9 September) and London (14 September).

The framework for local television, published last month by DCMS confirmed that a block of geographic interleaved (GI) spectrum will be awarded to a single multiplex licence holder, which will carry local services licensed by Ofcom to broadcast local TV.
(BMcN/KMcA)