Ofcom prepares for second phase of local TV licensing

Ofcom today invites expressions of interest to offer local TV services in 30 locations across the UK, ahead of a second phase of licensing.

Earlier this month, Ofcom announced that it had awarded 19 licences in the first phase, with Preston concluding the process. This follows duties given to Ofcom by Parliament to license local TV. It is hoped that some channels in the first phase may be on air before the end of 2013.

Ofcom is now inviting prospective applicants to submit expressions of interest for new local TV channels in 30 locations across the country.

Local TV channels will broadcast via a specific multiplex' which has a discrete amount of spectrum reserved for local TV broadcasting on digital terrestrial TV (DTT).

Phase 2 locations

The multiplex operator Comux, responsible for building and maintaining the technical infrastructure required to broadcast the local TV channels, has proposed 28 new locations where coverage is technically possible.

Ofcom is seeking expressions of interest from potential applicants in these 28 new locations, as well as for Swansea and Plymouth1, which were advertised in the first round but received no applications.

The 30 locations are:

Aberdeen Dundee Mold

Ayr Guildford Plymouth

Bangor Hereford Reading

Barnstaple Inverness Salisbury

Basingstoke Kidderminster Scarborough

Bedford Limavady Stoke on Trent

Bromsgrove Luton Stratford upon Avon

Cambridge Maidstone Swansea

Carlisle Malvern Tonbridge

Derry/Londonderry Middlesbrough York

The closing date for expressions of interest is 24 April 2013. Ofcom will consider all responses and publish further details on any future licensing round later this year. It is possible that there may be channels in phase two locations on air by the end of 2014.

Further details on submitting an expression of interest can be found here.

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. Ofcom is seeking final expressions of interest in Swansea and Plymouth. Local licences were advertised in May 2012 for these areas but, despite expressions of interest, there were no applicants. These areas remain part of the required coverage commitment of the multiplex licensee, if local licence awards can be made.

2. Ofcom has provided technical assistance for local TV coverage planning and is overseeing the licensing of local TV services. This follows the Government's policy statement in December 2011, and our public consultation that closed on 19 March 2012.

3. Expressions of interest are not binding commitments, and will help Ofcom to decide which licences, if any, to advertise.

4. As part of the first phase, Ofcom licensed the following local TV channels:

Belfast: NvTv Grimsby: Lincolnshire Living Nottingham: Notts TV

Birmingham: City TV Broadcasting London: London Live Oxford: That's Oxford

Brighton & Hove: Latest TV Leeds: Made in Leeds Preston: YourTV Blackpool & Preston

Bristol: Made in Bristol Liverpool: Bay TV Liverpool Sheffield: SLTV/Sheffield Live

Cardiff: Made in Cardiff Manchester: YourTV Manchester Southampton: That's Solent

Edinburgh: ETV Newcastle: Made in Tyne and Wear

Glasgow: GTV Norwich: Mustard

5. Digital UK, the organisation responsible for the management and allocation of channel numbers on DTT, has reserved channel numbers for new public service local TV channels. These will be carried at channel 8 (England and Northern Ireland) and channel 45 (Wales and Scotland).

LINK:	http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2013/03/13/ofcom-prepares-for-second-phase-o...
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