Ofcom has today begun the process of inviting expressions of interest to run local TV services in a further 30 locations across the UK, as part of phase two of the local TV initiative.
The new local TV channels for which Ofcom is now inviting prospective applicants to submit expressions of interest for, include Mold and Bangor, Scarborough and Stoke, Carlisle, Middlesbrough and York.
Ofcom has now awarded all the first 19 licences in the first phase with Preston the final station to be confirmed. Other successful bidders in Prolific North Land include Lincolnshire Living, Made in Leeds and Made in Tyne and Wear, YourTV Blackpool & Preston and YourTV Manchester, Bay TV Liverpool and SLTV/Sheffield Live.
Ofcom is hoping that some of these channels may be on air before the end of 2013 with Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool and Manchester among them.
The 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).
The closing date for expressions of interest is 24 April 2013.
Further details on submitting an expression of interest can be found here.
