Local TV channels will remain on Freeview until 2034, subject to a review of each channel’s future plans under proposals published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport today.
The plans would allow the media regulator Ofcom to renew the licences of all 34 local TV services, subject to a review of each station’s plans to continue meeting the needs of local audiences, which are currently due to expire in 2025.
Launched in 2013, local TV services are accessible to 15 million people (normally occupying channel 7 or 8 on Freeview) and are required to show a number of hours of local programming each day.
The Government claims “many” of these stations have “established themselves as a trusted source for local news and distinctive shows focused on smaller geographic areas.
But the majority of the channels are now in the hands of just two chains of channels. That’s TV’s local channels fill most of their airtime with music videos and older entertainment series, also shown on the national version of the channel. There is a 15 minute opt-out at 6pm for local news, which is provided by a central hub outside of the broadcast area.
The former ‘Made In…’ local TV channels are now part of a chain operated by Montgomery Media. At the beginning of the year, it began simulcasting TalkTV for large parts of the day.
A small number of independent services – including Notts TV in Nottingham and KMTV in Kent – also boost local journalism through training programmes provided in production, news reporting and technical roles, which enable students to gain hands-on experience.
As part of the plans, the Government is consulting on the current statutory objectives for local TV services.
Local TV Multiplex
At the same time, the local TV Freeview multiplex is due to also receive an extension to its licence until 2034. The multiplex carries the relevant local channel alongside a small bundle of commercial channels, currently including GREAT! tv (channel 49) and Reality Xtra (channel 68).
But the multiplex will be subject to the same ‘spectrum management’ break clause as the national multiplexes. That’s because there are still international negotiations pending regarding the future use of Freeview TV frequencies beyond 2030.
Marc Thornham