An Ofcom investigation finds local TV provider That’s TV barely provided any locally filmed news stories on a network specifically created to provide local news.
- That’s TV only filmed 2 news items in Ayr and York in 2022, 1 news story in Aberdeen and none in Scarborough.
- Follows relaxation of rules in 2021
- Local TV viewers more likely to see vintage TV re-runs and old music videos than news from their area.
Ofcom has found local TV operator That’s TV in breach of its broadcast licence conditions after an investigation revealed how little local news was filmed in fourteen areas of the UK.
According to the investigation, That’s TV had failed to maintain significant local news gathering in thirteen areas service by That’s TV’s local channels, plus one channel operated by YourTV Preston, also ultimately owned by That’s TV.
The local news not from your area
For the entirely of 2022, That’s TV failed to film a single news story in Scarborough, despite holding the licence for the local channel there.
In Aberdeen and Dundee, it filmed just one news story in each of the locations. Over in Ayr, Carlisle and York, the broadcaster manged to film two news stories during 2022.
Meanwhile in Grimsby, the channel formally known as ‘Estuary TV’ featured three stories actually filmed in the area. The service for Edinburgh featured four locally filmed news stories.
In contrast, viewers in the Solent area may have seen up to 21 news stories filmed in the Southampton area over the course of the year, an average of less than two news stories per month.
The figures were revealed in annual returns that local TV providers have to provide to Ofcom.
In its defence, That’s TV told Ofcom it has appointed new ‘roving reporters’ to cover local areas. However, some of the reporters did not assume their roles until 2024.
It told Ofcom it welcomed “regulatory clarity” regarding its localness requirements.
Failure to meet condition
The broadcaster had previously been permitted to change the way it gathers and presents local news. In 2021, Ofcom approved a request that allowed That’s TV to reduce its studio and production bases to five covering the UK. This paved the way for local news to be produced and presented from a different region.
As a condition of providing consent to remove the requirement to maintain a physical presence in the local area, and to ensure a local presence is maintained, Ofcom added a condition requiring That’s TV maintain “significant local newsgathering in the licence area”.
In response, Ofcom said it was “not satisfied” that three of That’s TV’s news production based featured significant local newsgathering in 2022. In ruling that a breach of its licence conditions has occurred, it’s put That’s TV on notice that it will be carefully assessing the broadcaster’s compliance.
Ofcom has previously told local TV operators to not localise national stories, for example by asking people’s opinions on the streets of where the local TV channel is broadcast.
Analysis: That’s TV: the non-local local TV service
Local TV stations were set up from 2013 onwards across various parts of the UK, broadcasting primarily on Freeview. Initially, channels were launched with bold promises of comprehensive local news provision. After a period of mass consolidation, two companies now hold the bulk of local TV licences. That’s TV is the largest group.
Notably, while That’s TV was failing to deliver local news stories, it was expanding its commercial channel business. A national version of the channel featuring classic TV shows and music videos is available on all major digital TV platforms. That’s TV also operates a number of classic TV and music channels.
In return for getting a prime Freeview slot, local TV operators must provide at least an hour of local news a day. Ofcom previously indicated it wanted to clamp down on local channels re-running the same 15 minute bulletin four times a day.
Currently, That’s TV shows just 15 minutes of news at 6:30pm, plus a looped news service from 3am to 9am. There are no evening news bulletins at the weekend. There are no local news programmes scheduled from Monday 23rd December due to Christmas.
By: Marc Thornham