Advanced Television

Ofcom latest local TV licences

June 19, 2014

Ofcom has awarded licences to run local TV services in Guildford, Reading and Salisbury on digital terrestrial TV (DTT). The licences are awarded to That’s Surrey Limited, That’s Berkshire Limited and That’s Salisbury Limited, respectively.

The awards follow legislation enabling Ofcom to issue local TV licences. The channels will be broadcast on DTT by the local multiplex, a discrete amount of spectrum reserved for local TV broadcasting on DTT.

Ofcom has now awarded 28 local TV licences, as well as the multiplex licence. The first local TV channel began broadcasting on DTT in Grimsby on 26 November 2013.

In June 2013, Ofcom started the second phase of local TV licensing by inviting applications to run local TV services in seven local areas. In September 2013 Ofcom invited applications for further 11 Local TV locations, including Guildford, Reading and Salisbury.

Ofcom estimates that the local TV licences could reach approximately 170,000 homes in Reading, 54,000 homes in Guildford, and 30,000 homes in Salisbury. The exact coverage at these locations will be confirmed with the local multiplex licensee.

Statements setting out the main reasons for the award of these three local TV licences for Guildford

Categories: Articles, Broadcast, DTT/DSO, Policy, Regulation