Media regulator Ofcom has named 20 proposed towns and cities as the pilot locations for the government’s Local TV plans.
Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt wants to see a nationwide network of hyperlocal TV stations, some owned by local press operators, replacing ITV regional news from 2014.
The 20 sites are: Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton & Hove, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Grimsby, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Plymouth, Preston, Southampton and Swansea.
The sites have been selected on the basis of strong local demand, technical feasibility and availability of a potential local service operator.
A further 24 sites have been named as possible additional locations for the next phase of licences.
These are: Aberdeen, Ayr, Bangor, Barnstaple, Basingstoke, Bedford, Cambridge, Carlisle, Derry/Londonderry, Dundee, Guildford, Hereford, Inverness, Kidderminster, Limavady, Luton, Maidstone, Malvern, Mold, Salisbury, Sheffield, Stoke on Trent, Stratford upon Avon and York.
Mr Hunt said: “I am confident these new stations will provide local communities with programming which is relevant to their daily lives, will support local democracy, boost the big society and enhance local communities.”
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‘The sites have been selected on the basis of strong local demand..’ Is this demand for local content, or an expressed interest for these types of services in the locality? And a demand from consumers or potential providers?
Very different for, say, London and Grimsby, whichever way you look at it – or has someone just plumped for some of the cities that happen to have the strongest regional media already? And possibly to pander to some of the large existing media players in these areas?
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I just don’t see where the investment will come from. Local TV and radio news is bad enough as it is. This will be glorified Youtube … come to think of it, maybe it’ll work!!!! Shakey cameras, inarticulate presenters. Should be a laugh
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