Element TV one of the latest bidders for Channel 6 license
The latest bidders to enter the fray for the license to run the Scottish element of Britain’s newest terrestrial TV station, channel 6, includes Element Television and another consortium – according to reports in the Guardian.
The pair are expected to submit last minute entries ahead of tomorrow’s deadline for submissions, a cut off which both will take to the wire.
The bids intend to establish a Scottish TV network spanning the whole of the country and give a voice to local communities with their bid. This would see the establishment of eight local stations across Central Scotland and a further six smaller stations covering the Highlands and Islands.
It is intended to merge the platform with the mooted Scottish digital network but broadcast on digital terrestrial frequencies rather than over the internet owing to capacity constraints.
Dr David Rushton, a local TV campaigner heading up the bid, said: “The key is to spend money on journalism and coverage in rural areas and the more dispersed communities. The BBC concentrates on central Scotland: we don't need more journalists there. The vital issue here is that viewers see that their local channel is in charge."
For their part Element Television are planning to pursue a digital ready approach, utilising broadband to allow smaller towns and villages to launch their own channels to deliver local news, entertainment and information.
Jamie Conway, Element TV’s chief executive, said: "Creating pan-national networks that opt out to short bursts of local programming provides nothing new and merely pays lip service to the concept of local broadcasting. Solutions and opportunities to let local businesses advertise to their local areas are as essential in creating a relevance to viewers as local programming is."