Jeremy Hunt Outlines Plans for Local TV and New Communications Act

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has launched an action plan to “make his vision of Local TV a reality”, and is calling upon media providers to register their interest in the scheme.

The plan, which builds on the Shott report, proposes broadcasting the channels on digital terrestrial television and displaying them prominently on the electronic programme guide.

Published last month, the Shott report recommended that, in the short to medium term, no more than 10 or 12 local TV services would be sustainable via digital terrestrial television and only then if certain minimum conditions were met. It said that “in the long term, local TV can be commercially viable, as and when IPTV gains sufficient market penetration.”

Speaking at the Oxford Media Convention yesterday (Wednesday), Mr Hunt said the initiative would offer communities a “new voice” and provide local perspectives directly relevant to them.

New and existing media providers have been invited to register their interest by 1 March and come forward with suggestions on how a channel dedicated to local news and content could work best.

Mr Hunt said the goal was to award licences by the end of 2012 and for local TV to be up and running soon after.

“For consumers, what this will mean is a new channel dedicated to the provision of local news and content – one that will sit alongside other public service broadcasters, offering a new voice for local communities, with local perspectives that are directly relevant to them,” Mr Hunt said.

He added that the Government will not be prescriptive about the number of areas around the country that will be involved and will wait to see what commercially viable proposals come forward.

The Culture Secretary also told the conference that a thorough review of media and communications will be carried out, leading to a new Communications Act.

The new act will aim to allow the UK’s digital and creative industries to move to the next stage and play their fullest possible role in promoting competition, innovation and economic growth.

Mr Hunt said Government would talk to industry about the key issues in the coming months and publish a Green Paper at the end of the year that will set out the full scope of the Bill.