Channel 4 bids to run Jeremy Hunt's new local TV network channel

Channel 4 has submitted a bid to run Jeremy Hunt's new national TV channel, dubbed Channel 6.

The broadcaster has confirmed that it has "expressed an interest in operating the national backbone that would underpin a local TV network".

In a statement this afternoon, Channel 4 said: "As the government has made clear the economics of launching local TV in the UK’s mature media market are challenging, so at this stage our submission has focused closely on the measures we believe it needs to take to ensure local TV can thrive."
 
Sky has today revealed it is not bidding to run the channel but says it is exploring how local news content could be broadcast via its video on demand service Sky Anytime+.

A spokesman for Sky told Journalism.co.uk it had not submitted an expression of interest to run the new network channel but that the broadcaster had begun "early stage exploratory discussions about how local news content might be distributed over the Sky platform, which could involve Sky Anytime+."

In a statement, the Department for Culture Media and Sport said it has received over 20 expressions of interest to run the new network channel, which culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has said will include local programming.

The DCMS told Journalism.co.uk that it is now examining submissions but is not yet releasing the full list of interested parties, but in a release said: "In addition, we have received five responses from parties interested in running networks in the devolved nations and over 30 expressions of interest from organisations, groups and individuals interested in providing local services."

The government-commissioned Shott report, published in December, said television stations should be set up in 10-12 city areas at an anticipated cost of £25 million per year to trial a local TV network in the UK.

Image by Loz Flowers on Flickr. Some rights reserved.

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