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Grimsby and Brighton set to become trailblazers in local TV revolution

by Steve Beasant on 13 September, 2012

Ofcom yesterday awarded the first licences to run local TV services on digital terrestrial TV (DTT) in Brighton and Grimsby.
 
The awards follow new legislation enabling Ofcom to issue local TV licences.

The channels will broadcast on a specific ‘multiplex’, a discrete amount of spectrum reserved for local TV broadcasting on DTT.
 
The first two licences awarded are:
 
Brighton: Latest TV Limited, Channel name: Latest TV
 
Grimsby: Channel 7 Television Community Interest Company, Channel name: Lincolnshire Living
 
Licences are awarded for a period of up to 12 years. It is hoped that some channels may be on air before the end of 2013.
 
In May 2012, Ofcom invited applications to run local TV services in 21 local areas. In total, 57 applications were received to run the local TV services, along with 4 applications for the local multiplex.
 
As well as broadcasting on DTT, it is anticipated that local TV channels might also wish to offer their services on satellite, cable and online.
 
Ofcom will make further licence awards in the coming months.
 
A statement setting out the main reasons for the award of these local TV licences will be published by Ofcom shortly.

Lincolnshire Living is an extension of the Grimsby-based Channel 7 local TV service which has been broadcasting on Virgin Media for the past 15 years as Seven.

Executive producer Lia Nici told the BBC the channel was “over the moon” to be awarded the licence.

“We’re one successful model of local TV in the UK so now we can continue to extend our service and be available to a wider audience,” she said.

“We intend to make sure programming is either locally relevant or locally produced.”

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