Ofcom wants Plymouth bids for local TV channel
PLYMOUTH is being given a second shot at having a local TV station – after nobody came forward to run one last time.
The city is on a list of 30 locations announced by Ofcom. The quango wants expressions of interest sent in ahead of a second phase of licensing.
Earlier this month, Ofcom announced it had awarded 19 licences in the first phase.
The Government hopes some of these channels may be on air before the end of this year.
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Plymouth had been on the original phase one list, but was one of two shortlisted locations where no applications were received to run a station, despite previous expressions of interest. The other was Swansea.
Now Ofcom wants the city to make a fresh bid for a local TV channel.
This will broadcast via a specific "multiplex" which has a discrete amount of spectrum reserved for local TV broadcasting on digital terrestrial TV (DTT).
The closing date for expressions of interest is April 24.
5 Comments
by colin99
Thursday, March 14 2013, 7:35PM
“CharlieDodd, jolly good, you get Freeview. Lots of people don't, or even if they can then they barely use it because they have satellite or cable. So there are a many people unavailable to the advertisers, that's my point. Do you disagree with that logic?
Perhaps this local channel idea will be funded by some other means than advertisers, the article doesn't discuss finance.
By the way, there are free satellite reception options, I know a number of people who use these rather than go through the trouble of having a large aerial installed in poor reception areas.”
by CharlieDodd
Thursday, March 14 2013, 2:16PM
“For the record I live in central Plymouth and get terrestrial Freeview and its couple of dozen channels just fine (indoor aerial), all for free..:)”
by colin99
Thursday, March 14 2013, 2:01PM
“A local channel would only get a slot of terrestrial transmitters, not satellite or cable, due to costs.
OK, so the channel would need advertising revenue, and advertisers think about who will watch the channel. But it's only going to be terrestrial, so that eliminates many potential viewers in a valley, near trees, hills or buildings. It also eliminates the main TV in any household which has satellite/cable reception because the latter have better picture quality, (once a TV is connected to satellite or cable then terrestrial may rarely get a look-in). Freeview channels are more likely to be available in a kitchen or bedroom than the main TV in the house.
And the demographics are such that the part of the population who can't afford satellite TV (not even the free versions) nor cable, are not going to have the money to spend on advertised products.
I just don't see advertisers going for a small local channel on terrestrial-only.”
by CharlieDodd
Thursday, March 14 2013, 1:23PM
“Get in there Tom Daley, you've already proved you're a natural-born TV host with Splash!..:)”
by Winstonsmith0
Thursday, March 14 2013, 10:33AM
“Plymouth, city of culture!”