A synopsis from the MediaGraun:
[quote=MediaGraun]
The culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, will today unveil plans for a new national television channel to help deliver his ambition for a network of local TV services.
Hunt hopes the new UK-wide channel will act as a "spine", probably with national programming mixed with local content from around the country to make it attractive to advertisers and therefore commercially viable.
Under the plan, which echoes the model championed by local TV company Channel 6's Richard Horwood, the national digital terrestrial channel will use a network affiliate model, with guaranteed opt-outs at specific times of the day, so that a range of local services can be featured.
Hunt is publishing a local TV action plan, which will be officially unveiled at the Oxford Media Convention, and calling for media companies to register their interest in running the new channel as the first step to launching the first local TV stations by the end of 2012.
"For consumers, what this will mean is a new channel dedicated to the provision of local news and content," he will say. "One that will sit alongside other public service broadcasters, offering a new voice for local communities, with local perspectives that are directly relevant to them."
Hunt will also investigate whether "must carry" obligations on BSkyB and Virgin Media are an "appropriate" measure to ensure the widest reach possible for the new channel.
He intends to use legislation to ensure that the new Freeview channel secures a slot high up on digital TV electronic programme guides.
Exactly how high up the EPG the channel will be placed is not clear – the top five positions are guaranteed to public service licence holders the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
But Hunt will say that for it to be a success it will have to "sit alongside other public service broadcasters".
"The government wants to see a market-based solution emerge and is prepared to exercise its available powers and facilitate the right conditions to incentivise the market," Hunt says in the 26-page Action Plan. "The government is also considering whether new primary legislation is needed to secure incentives such as a prominent EPG position for local services."
Hunt did not indicate how many local TV services he expected could be commercially viable in the long term, but there is a goal of launching between 10 and 15 services by 2015.
The final report delivered to government by Lazard investment banker Nicholas Shott last month said that a total of only 10 to 12 TV services might work in major conurbations, broadcasting up to two hours of content daily.
However, Greg Dyke, the former BBC director general, and Roger Parry, the former Johnston Press chairman, believe that as many as 80 services could flourish.
"We will not be prescriptive," Hunt will say. "We will wait for the necessary technical assessment to be completed and we will listen to the commercially viable proposals that come forward. Our goal is to be able to award the relevant licences by the end of 2012, and for local TV to be up and running soon after."
Shott's report estimated that in a specific scenario a network of 10 local TV services would have a combined cost base of around £25m. About £5m would come from local advertising and a further £15m from national advertising.
In the BBC's licence fee settlement the corporation committed to providing start-up capital costs of up to £25m in 2013-14 for up to 20 local TV services and up to £5m per year for ongoing funding for three years to acquire local TV content.
[/quote]
[url]http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jan/19/jeremy-hunt-new-television-channel?showallcomments=true#comment-fold[/url]
My opinion - a rather pointless vanity project. It would be far cheaper to kick ITV in the balls (the BBC Trust has ruled out itself after criticism in a Midlands local tv pilot from the Tories and local newspapers) and revive the arcane ritual known as the "license round", and shove the old content provisions back on them.
I'd watch a refreshed ITV for the novelty.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/85gB7.png[/img]
And just like ITV2 (which was high on the EPG when it was launched) it'll fade into relative obscurity.
This sounds like a monumental waste of funds.
Only 6 channels on local?
Damn and I thought the default 40 channels in my area was a small amount.
I agree with OP, ITV are always last in the ratings and are constantly struggling for money, give them a tax break and make them host the local shows (that will guaranteed all flop anyway).
whats the point of this? 98% of us will have free view by then.
I agree with OP. Ever since HTV became ITV they've got more and more desperate for money, now the ads really DO run as long as the program.
Money would be better spent on other telecommunications projects. Improvements to the telephone infrastructure for example to bring our internet speeds out of what seem like the dark ages by comparison to what other countries already have. More people would benefit form it.
[QUOTE=theenemy;27542794]Money would be better spent on other telecommunications projects. Improvements to the telephone infrastructure for example to bring our internet speeds out of what seem like the dark ages by comparison to what other countries already have. More people would benefit form it.[/QUOTE]
I think the licence fee's being carved up for that as well (alongside S4C, the World Service, and probably this).
Just like BBC4. No one watches it.
Erm, why do we need this? BBC has regional news, ITV is (in this area) Anglia anyway.
[editline]20th January 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=Bytecry;27543426]Just like BBC4. No one watches it.[/QUOTE]
BBC4 has some good television on it, better than most of the dross on the telly.
Channel 5 is shit enough already, this will be on another level of shittyness.
It's a waste of money.
Hell, we don't even get all of the 5 current channels where I am - 4 is nearly always static filled and 5 is non-existant.
Good thing I've got Freeview...
[QUOTE=Bytecry;27543426]Just like BBC4. No one watches it.[/QUOTE]
I do - some of the documentaries are pure anorakery but the one-off dramas are brilliant. Long time in a while I've seen "BBC Productions" at the end of one as well.
Just replace Channel 5, who watches that?
[QUOTE=cyclocius;27552023]Just replace Channel 5, who watches that?[/QUOTE]
back in my day C5 only existed for the toplessness after hours.
[QUOTE=kenji;27555577]back in my day C5 only existed for the toplessness after hours.[/QUOTE]
back in my day C4 only existed for the toplessness after hours
(no, seriously, though, [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_triangle_(Channel_4[/url]))
BBC1 & 2
Dave
BBC 3
ITV
C4
All anyone needs honestly
Just break up ITV again, and ban them from remerging.
[editline]21st January 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=leach139;27538975]And just like ITV2 (which was high on the EPG when it was launched) it'll fade into relative obscurity.
This sounds like a monumental waste of funds.[/QUOTE]
ITV 2's doing quite well, for a digital channel.
[QUOTE=HubmaN;27562608]back in my day C4 only existed for the toplessness after hours
(no, seriously, though, [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_triangle_(Channel_4[/url]))[/QUOTE]
I wasn't even born then. :smith:
[QUOTE=Mak123;27542286]whats the point of this? 98% of us will have free view by then.[/QUOTE]
Point!? Point!?
Need more money!
[QUOTE=Gizmodo456;27540021]I agree with OP, ITV are always last in the ratings and are constantly struggling for money, give them a tax break and make them host the local shows (that will guaranteed all flop anyway).[/QUOTE]
uh what? the x factor final had 20 million viewers
ITV is making megabucks from programs like that
BBC is the best television/radio corporation in the world, we don't need a 6th channel, let alone 4 others.
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