Inclusive Digital to set up Local Digital News
Production company Inclusive Digital has announced that it is setting up Local Digital News, which will provide management, training, a mobile platform and a supply of news to customers.
The aim of the scheme is to allow potential local TV operators to keep costs down by ‘accessing a central pool of expertise and coverage’. The new company will offer potential and successful local TV consortia management and training in setting up and operating local TV channels; an online digital news platform developed by Inclusive Media for mobiles, tablets, online, and connected TV; and the supply of relevant stories that could be given a local angle in local TV areas.
This comes following Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s strategy proposal for local TV,which aims to see 10-20 local TV services by 2015, with the first on air in 2013.
Local Digital News is being led by three senior broadcasting and digital executives: Nigel Dacre, the CEO of Inclusive Digital and former editor of ITV News; Steve Perkins, former head of content policy at Ofcom; and Nicholas Wheeler, former head of ITN’s digital media division.
Nigel Dacre said: “Our aim is to bring top level knowledge to local TV. But it is not just a consultancy service. It’s an experience bank delivering practical solutions in a practical way.”