MPs Back Local Freeview Channel

More than 120 MPs have backed a plan to introduce a UK-wide local channel on the Freeview digital platform.

The proposed local television network, Channel 6, put forward by a coalition of local TV operators and campaigners called United for Local Television, could carry local news, programming and advertising. It would also run ‘networked’ public service content.

United for Local Television argued that local TV would be more focused on local content than current regional output on the BBC and ITV.

The BBC scrapped ultra local news plans last year as part of its corporation-wide cutbacks (see BBC Could Reconsider Plans For Local TV News Stations). It said it would concentrate on developing online news services, investing £300 million in the project, subject to approval by the BBC Trust. ITV announced plans last year to reduce its regional news budget by £40 million (see ITV Plans To Cut Regional News Budget).

United for Local Television wants the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to introduce the new channel before analogue switchoff in 2012 (see Digital UK To Put £3m Into New Switchover Help Scheme).

The Early Day Motion, signed by 122 MPs, was proposed by Ian Stewart MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Community Media and MP for Eccles.

Stewart 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.”

Local TV is the most demanded new application by the public according to research from Ofcom’s Digital Dividend Review.

Freeview: 08708 80 99 80 www.freeview.co.uk