Ofcom awards local TV licences in Brighton and Grimsby
Media regulator Ofcom has today awarded licences for two new local TV channels to be broadcast on digital terrestial television in Brighton and Grimsby.
The licences have been given to Latest TV Limited, which will run Latest TV in Brighton, and the Channel 7 Television Community Interest Company, whose channel will be known as Lincolnshire Living.
The awards follow new legislation enabling Ofcom to issue local TV licences and the channels will broadcast on a discrete amount of space reserved for local TV broadcasting on digital television.
The process began in May when Ofcom announced that it was accepting applications to run local TV services in 21 areas. It received 57 applications.
Licences are awarded for a period of upto 12 years and the channels could be on air before the end of 2013.
In its application document, Latest TV said its station would "work towards building community cohesion". It promised a schedule including "news, current affairs and ‘what’s on’, plus varied programmes to include local history, culture, sport, property, business and documentaries".
Lincolnshire Living's vision is to "bring the screen to local life ... giving the people living and working in our communities a voice and a platform to showcase our area". News and current affairs will be the "backbone" of its programming.