[a516]

Originally Posted by gwrbristol

A lot houses in Cardiff and Newport have aerials pointing at Mendip just to get Ch4. Digital switchover if course solved the S4/C Channel 4 issue but people are yet to get up on the roof and swing the aerial round.

Yes, it was quite advantageous to get an extra channel from Mendip in the pre-digital days. But the local TV signal from Mendip will not be beamed in the direction of Cardiff and Newport.

[marria01]

...and Liverpool has gone to Bay TV. That leaves only Preston from the 1st phase to be announced. Given Metro8's luck so far, I'd say YourTV have got it in the bag.

It's been quite an interesting process, the only decision that's truly flabbergasted me has been Manchester. I think Ofcom have dropped a bit of a bo**ock on that one.

[sparkie70]

Originally Posted by marria01

...and Liverpool has gone to Bay TV. That leaves only Preston from the 1st phase to be announced. Given Metro8's luck so far, I'd say YourTV have got it in the bag.

It's been quite an interesting process, the only decision that's truly flabbergasted me has been Manchester. I think Ofcom have dropped a bit of a bo**ock on that one.

Glad that Liverpool has got a local group but thought it would be Our tv as Bay tv just seems to have teleshopping in the evenings.

[Rijowhite]

Originally Posted by Ray Cathode

Manchester is England's second city and if this new incarnation of local TV fails there, it will fail everywhere else except London.

I personally think that even if Local TV fails in Manchester, it could still work in (England's second City) Birmingham and Liverpool amongst others as these are areas that the TV industry has abandoned*. With the set up and potential audience the London franchise has, I'm sure it will be a success.

* They really should look at a Regional quota as opposed to a National quota of TV Programming.

[chrisdafur]

YourTV wins Blackpool and Preston licence

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013...ckpool-preston

[marria01]

In its award of the Preston and Blackpool licence, the regulator said that YourTV demonstrated a "better knowledge" of the region and "would meet the needs of the local area".

That wouldn't be hard considering the competition was Metro8.

[jj20x]

Originally Posted by marria01

That wouldn't be hard considering the competition was Metro8.

Yes, I think Metro8 need to take a good look at what they are offering if they plan on applying for any licences in the next phase.

[TelevisionUser]

Originally Posted by chrisdafur

YourTV wins Blackpool and Preston licence

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013...ckpool-preston

Whilst I wish the successful bidders well, I remain doubtful that some of these smaller towns will be able to support a local TV service in the long term. I can certainly see local TV surviving in large cities like London, Manchester, Birmingham, etc.

[Rijowhite]

UK local TV operator Comux heads for Birmingham
May 13, 2013
Related Content

Comux UK, the company responsible for operating the UK’s local digital-terrestrial TV infrastructure, is setting up base at Birmingham Science Park Aston’s Innovation Birmingham Campus.

Comux will occupy three suites: one dedicated to broadcast operations; one that will house the operations team; and another that will contain the servers required to power the local TV stations. The new headquarters will create 20 jobs locally.

“Basing the Comux operation at the Innovation Birmingham Campus makes absolute business sense. For one, it is an urban location in the centre of the country with very good accessibility, but crucially it is one of the only places that is capable of providing the infrastructure we need to power a UK wide network of local TV stations,” said Comux UK founder Ed Hall.

UK broadcast regulator Ofcom granted Comux a 12-year license to build and operate a local TV broadcasting platform earlier this year. The move will establish up to 60 local channels in towns and cities across the UK, with an initial 19 to launch by the end of 2013.

Alongside broadcasting on digital terrestrial TV, the local channels are expected to go live on satellite and cable TV, and online. The BBC has pledged £25 million (€26 million) of funding to the local TV initiative up to 2017, with the channels to raise their own ad revenue.

[marria01]

Originally Posted by Rijowhite

UK local TV operator Comux heads for Birmingham
May 13, 2013
Related Content

Comux UK, the company responsible for operating the UK’s local digital-terrestrial TV infrastructure, is setting up base at Birmingham Science Park Aston’s Innovation Birmingham Campus.

Comux will occupy three suites: one dedicated to broadcast operations; one that will house the operations team; and another that will contain the servers required to power the local TV stations. The new headquarters will create 20 jobs locally.

“Basing the Comux operation at the Innovation Birmingham Campus makes absolute business sense. For one, it is an urban location in the centre of the country with very good accessibility, but crucially it is one of the only places that is capable of providing the infrastructure we need to power a UK wide network of local TV stations,” said Comux UK founder Ed Hall.

UK broadcast regulator Ofcom granted Comux a 12-year license to build and operate a local TV broadcasting platform earlier this year. The move will establish up to 60 local channels in towns and cities across the UK, with an initial 19 to launch by the end of 2013.

Alongside broadcasting on digital terrestrial TV, the local channels are expected to go live on satellite and cable TV, and online. The BBC has pledged £25 million (€26 million) of funding to the local TV initiative up to 2017, with the channels to raise their own ad revenue.

Who writes this stuff? It's been common knowledge that they're setting up in Birmingham since they put their licence application in. It hardly even qualifies as news.

They also won't be putting every service on Sat/Cable either.

Quality journalism.....