Press Release
OVER 120 MPs DEMAND LOCAL TV ON FREEVIEW
17 March 2008
Over 120 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion demanding that the Government introduce a local television network on Freeview before switching off the analogue TV signals.
Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum are backing a plan put forward by United for Local Television, a coalition of local TV operators and campaigners. This would see the introduction of “Channel 6” as a new local channel broadcasting on the Freeview platform. No matter where you live in the UK, Channel 6 would be a local channel offering local news, local programming and local advertising. Channel 6 would also carry ‘networked’ public service content covering interests such as the arts, business, industry, rural affairs, tourism, health and social issues.
The Early Day Motion has been proposed by Ian Stewart MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Community Media, and is rapidly gaining support from MPs.
Ian Stewart, MP for Eccles, said:
“UK citizens are amongst the least well served in the entire democratic world for access to local news and information from television. It is vital that at least one channel (out of a potential 30+ channels on Freeview) is protected as a local channel providing a forum to debate and discuss local issues. I feel very strongly that local TV must be extended so that everyone has access to a local channel on Freeview no matter where they live and without the need to subscribe to pay-TV or the internet.”
The Government is committed to the expansion of local TV. Section 244 of the Communications Act 2003 gives the Culture Secretary the ability to enact a Local Digital Television Order which would roll out local TV services across the UK. MPs are now calling on the Government to enact these provisions.
Jaqui Devereux from the Community Media Association, spokesperson for United for Local Television, said:
“We are receiving the message loud and clear from MPs that they want the Government to introduce local TV on Freeview as soon as possible. Local TV is established and successful in almost all other free countries. We believe that no UK citizen should be denied access to local news and information on television. This is even more vital now that ITV is reducing its non-news regional programming.”
Early Day Motion number 1013, Local Public Service Television, has amassed the support of over 120 MPs since it was proposed on 21 February 2008. The motion states:
“That this House congratulates Ofcom in finding a means to deliver local television to every household across the UK on Freeview; and looks to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to introduce a licence for the provision of local public service television during the rollout of digital switchover.”
Local TV is the most demanded new application in Ofcom’s Digital Dividend Review research. According to Ofcom, “local TV on Freeview” is the number one new application personally demanded by the UK public, ahead of both “extra SD channels” and “HD on Freeview”.
It is proposed that local TV would be more ‘focused’ on local content than existing regional TV ‘opt-out’ programming on the BBC or ITV. Local news bulletins would be complemented by documentaries, current affairs and social action content produced by local and regional programme makers.
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