Ofcom seeks bids to run local television services in 21 towns and cities across UK
Media regulator Ofcom is inviting bids for licences to run local TV services in 21 cities and towns across the UK as well as bidders to run a local TV Multiplex.
The contract to run the multiplex will run for 12-years, with the successful applicant tasked with managing the digital terrestrial television spectrum used by the operators of the services in the 21 locations.
The Guardian also reports that the BBC Trust has laid out its plan to divide £25m of the licence fee to support the multiplex licence, including transmitters and other equipment, between 2013 and 2017.
An extra £5m will be spent each year by the BBC, over three years leading towards 2017, to buy suitable content from local TV operators.
Ofcom is reported to have received 87 expressions of interest from those interested in running local TV services; alongside another three from potential bidders who could run a local TV multiplex.
The 21 initial local TV licences advertised yesterday are for: Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton & Hove, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Grimsby, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Plymouth, Preston, Sheffield, Southampton and Swansea.