Ofcom awards licence to run local TV service in London to Lebedevs
Ofcom has awarded the licence to run the local TV service in London on digital terrestrial TV to the Evening Standard. The London channel is expected to cover around 4 million homes, the largest reach of all the new local TV services.
The licence, which can last for a period of up to 12 years, was awarded to ESTV Ltd – owned by the Evening Standard and Independent owners Alexander and Evgeny Lebedev – with the channel name ‘London Live’.
The award follows legislation enabling Ofcom to issue local TV licences. The channels will broadcast on a specific ‘multiplex’, a discrete amount of spectrum reserved for local TV broadcasting on digital terrestrial TV.
Speaking in today’s Evening Standard Evgeny Lebedev said: “I am absolutely delighted that Ofcom has awarded us this opportunity to give Londoners their own high-quality local television channel.
“Our excellent team of journalists in the capital have the best contacts, knowledge and understanding of the London scene. Through the Evening Standard and Independent, we have proved time and again that we can deliver fast, accurate, high-quality breaking news, features and analysis, and we are looking forward to applying these skills to London Live.”
In May 2012, Ofcom invited applications to run local TV services in 21 local areas. In total, 57 applications were received to run the local TV services, along with four applications for the local multiplex. Ofcom received five applications for the London licence.
As well as broadcasting on DTT, it is anticipated that local TV channels might also wish to offer their services on satellite, cable and online.
Ofcom has now awarded 15 local TV licences, as well as the multiplex licence, and will make further licence awards in the coming months.