Ofcom
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Ofcom awards Manchester local TV licence
Ofcom has awarded the licence to run the local TV service in Manchester on digital terrestrial TV (DTT).
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 DTT.
The licence is awarded to:
Manchester: YourTV Manchester
Channel name: YourTV Manchester
Website: www.yourtvmanchester.co.uk
Licences are awarded for a period of up to 12 years. It is hoped that some channels may be on air before the end of 2013. The Manchester channel is expected to cover around 1 million homes1.
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 in 19 areas, along with four applications for the local multiplex. Ofcom received five applications for the Manchester 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 16 local TV licences, as well as the multiplex licence, and will make further licence awards in the coming months.
A statement setting out the main reasons for the award of the local TV licences referred to above has been published on the Ofcom website.
Notes for Editors
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Ofcom estimates that the Manchester local TV licence could reach approximately 1 million homes. Ofcom is in the process of confirming the coverage with the multiplex licensee now that the multiplex licence has been awarded.
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Ofcom has provided technical assistance for local TV coverage planning and is overseeing the licensing of local TV services. This follows the Government’s policy statement in December 2011, and our public consultation that closed on 19 March 2012.
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Digital UK, the organisation responsible for the management and allocation of channel numbers on DTT, has reserved channel numbers for new public service local TV channels. These will be carried at channel 8 (England and Northern Ireland) and channel 45 (Wales and Scotland).
