Notts TV to sign off after more than 10 years on air
Notts TV, the local broadcaster for Nottinghamshire, is set to shut down after more than a decade on air.
Nottingham Trent University (NTU), which owns the channel, confirmed in an internal email to all staff today (February 17) that it will not be applying to renew Notts TV’s broadcasting licence.
The university has said the low numbers involved with the channel have been too small to warrant more investment into its operations.
The channel’s leadership includes Mike Sassi, former editor of the Nottingham Post, and Angela Brown, executive dean at NTU.
In a statement, NTU said: “In November 2025 Notts TV’s broadcasting licence will be up for renewal. This has provided NTU with an opportunity to consider if Notts TV delivers sufficient benefit to its students at a time when all organisations in and around the public sector are operating with constrained budgets.
“Whilst students who have had placements with Notts TV have gained significant real work experience, the numbers involved have been too small to warrant continued investment.
“NTU hopes that other organisations will step forward to submit proposals to Ofcom to continue focused local broadcasting and pick up the baton that NTU has been holding aloft since May 2014. In the meantime, it is NTU’s intention that Notts TV will continue to broadcast for the duration of its remaining licence period at which point it will close down.”
Launched in 2014, Notts TV recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and has flagship channels including Notts Today and Team Talk. The channel was one of over 30 local TV stations granted a licence by Ofcom in 2014.
As these licences approach their expiration, Ofcom confirmed in late 2023 that all channels could apply for an initial licence extension, lasting until November 25, 2026. Following this, they could apply for a formal eight-year renewal until 2034.
Notts TV has decided not to apply for renewal, meaning its licence will expire on November 25 this year, leading to the station’s closure.
With nine employees, the channel currently broadcasts on Freeview, BT, and Virgin. It’s the official broadcast partner of the Splendour Festival and holds the BBC’s Local Democracy Reporting scheme contract for Nottinghamshire.
Recent financial reports show Notts TV recorded a loss of over £13,000, a significant increase from the previous year’s loss of over £1,000. The accounts also revealed that the channel owes over £1.7m to creditors, including £765,000 to NTU.
