Technical changes to prepare for the first of a new wave of local TV services on Freeview have been completed by Digital UK ahead of its launch on November 26th.

Working in conjunction with multiplex operator Comux, Digital UK has successfully integrated the new service into the terrestrial TV network. Programme and scheduling information for Estuary, serving Grimsby and parts of north Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire, will appear at channel 8 in the Freeview programme guide.

A further 18 local TV services have been licensed by Ofcom and are scheduled to be integrated into the DTT platform by Digital UK next year. Applications for another 28 are currently being considered. The new multiplex will also support up to two additional ‘quasi-national’ commercial services.

Jonathan Thompson, Chief Executive of Digital UK, said: ‘We are delighted to support the launch of local TV for Freeview viewers and look forward to working with Comux as more services are rolled out across the UK.’

All local channels in England and Northern Ireland will be listed at position 8 in the programme guide. Following the closure of Gold on DTT, local channels in Scotland and Wales have been allocated LCN 26 in accordance with appropriate prominence rules for public service channels in Digital UK’s LCN policy. Originally these services were scheduled to be listed at 45.

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