Government scraps ITV regional news pilots to fund super-fast broadband

The government has scrapped plans to introduce independently funded local news consortia, new culture secretary Jeremy Hunt announced in his first major speech today.

Hunt said that the plans, introduced under the Labour government to replace ITV’s regional news provision, would be scrapped to fund the roll-out of super fast broadband.

“Within this parliament we want Britain to have the best superfast broadband network in Europe,” he said.

Hunt also unveiled plans to ease restrictions on local cross-media ownership.

Regulator Ofcom will be asked to investigate the removal of all local cross-media ownership rules and look at options for supporting new local television stations in towns and cities.

Nick Schott, head of UK investment banking at Lazards, will carry out a commercial assessment of local TV this summer, to be followed by the Autumn publication of a “local media action plan” by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Hunt said: “The government believes in localism and the enormous benefits of fostering local cultural, economic and political identities. Vibrant local media are an important part of that. We are driving forward greater transparency at all levels of public life – and the challenge and scrutiny of local journalists is vital to that.

“I want a modern regulatory environment which will help nurture a new generation of hungry, ambitious and profitable local media companies.”