Channel 4 bids for national TV network
A spate of new contenders for the Channel 6 local TV franchise have emerged, including Channel Four and a consortium that includes Scottish consultancy New Media Partners.
The Guardian reports that the broadcaster put through its proposal three days after the deadline of last Monday as it was debated by the main board of directors.
BSkyB have also indicated today that it was in talks with Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt about how it could help local broadcasters use its broadband network, though it is unlikely to be a bidder for the national channel.
It is thought that Channel 4 has decided it cannot risk losing out on national advertising revenue and sit back while a potential competitor opens for business.
TripleSee, a consortium of independent media companies TwoFour, Maidthorn Partners and New Media Partners are the latest bidders to stake a claim for ownership of the new channel.
A full list of interested bidders is expected to revealed soon by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. There are said to have been 31 expressions of interest by the deadline, of which five are for services in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.