Stations can broadcast beyond 2025 subject to Ofcom
approving plans to serve local audiences
From London Live to Notts TV, local programming continues
to be a source of regional news and provides training for
journalists
The UK’s 34 local TV stations can stay on air beyond 2025,
subject to media regulator Ofcom’s approval of the stations’
long-term plans, the government has decided following a public
consultation.
Launched in 2013, local TV services are required to show a
certain number of hours of local programming daily, serving
different regions across the country. Many of the services also
support local journalism through training programmes provided in
production, news reporting and technical roles, which enable
students to gain hands-on experience.
The licences for the 34 local TV services, often found on channel
7 and 8 on Freeview, are due to expire in November 2025. In the
broadcasting white
paper, which set out the government’s vision for the sector,
it committed to consult on renewing or relicensing the individual
stations.
The consultation found that industry participants and members of
the public support the government’s plan to renew the individual
local TV licences until 2034, on the condition that stations show
Ofcom that they can maintain current levels of service and
continue meeting the needs of local audiences for the decade
ahead.
Under the new approach, Ofcom will review each station’s
long-term plan for how it seeks to meet its daily programming
quota and produce distinct shows that are relevant to their area.
The local TV stations who receive Ofcom’s approval to renew their
licence will continue to benefit from a prominent position in
regulated electronic TV guides, including Freeview. Should
current providers decide not to reapply or if Ofcom does not
approve a renewal, a competitive relicensing process will be
launched.
Plans to renew the local TV multiplex licence - which compresses
and bundles a number of TV services into one frequency and
transmits it digitally - will also be taken forward, ensuring
local stations remain available to viewers free-to-air.
Media Minister said:
Despite changing technology and shifting viewing habits, people
across the country tune into their local TV providers for trusted
local news and distinct programming.
We are helping the sector to continue delivering for audiences,
supporting local journalism and fostering community pride, in the
years to come.
The consultation considered whether the current objectives for
local TV should be updated. These include the need to produce
content that caters to the interests and needs of a local area,
increasing the availability and production of local programming
and delivering social and economic benefits to the community. It
concludes that the objectives remain fit for purpose and provide
local TV services with a clear framework to deliver distinct
content that meets the needs of viewers.
The government will move forward with secondary legislation to
implement these changes when parliamentary time allows, with the
aim of the Ofcom-led renewal process being completed by the end
of the year.
Notes to editors
-
The local TV multiplex is currently operated by Comux
Ltd.
-
There are currently local TV services in 34 areas of the UK:
Aberdeen, Ayr, Basingstoke, Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton,
Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Carlisle, Dundee, Edinburgh,
Glasgow, Grimsby, Guildford, Leeds, Liverpool, London,
Maidstone, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Mold, Newcastle,
Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Preston, Reading, Salisbury,
Scarborough, Sheffield, Southampton, Swansea and York.
-
The government intends to make an Order under section 244 of
the Communications Act 2003 to implement the renewal of the
local TV multiplex licence and 34 individual local TV service
licences.
