Your TV ‘on track’ for February launch
YOUR TV, the local TV licence holder for Manchester and Preston, says it is on track to start broadcasting in February, although it is still finalising funding and the location of its studio.
Winning bidders have two years from the granting of their license to launch their services, which have been given the prominent position of channel 8 on Freeview.
Your TV secured its license in February 2013 a few months after Bay TV won the Liverpool franchise which launched last week.
It was founded by former TV producer Jim Manson and Lin Glover, a former regulator with Ofcom’s predecessor the Independent Broadcasting Association, and is chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, a former chairman of the BBC Trust. In the North West it is chaired by former PwC senior partner David McKeith.
Ms Glover told TheBusinessDesk.com: “We’ve been inviting investment and at the moment we’re weighing up the benefits of one investor against the other. But both give us the opportunity to launch on time, it’s just a question of making sure we do the best deal for shareholders.”
She said the broadcaster was likely to use existing facilities, such as the studios at the University of Central Lancashire and Salford University, but had not made the final arrangements. It expects to employ around 40 staff across the two stations.
“We’ve already interviewed significant numbers of people in the area. In Manchester there’s a huge number of freelancers so easy to access the talent and the universities are very good at producing skilled individuals.”
Local TV was the brainchild of former culture secretary Jeremy Hunt who initially identified 21 towns and cities to pioneer the service. It has since been rolled out to a further 30 locations. When the idea was hatched ITV, under Michael Grade, was trying to give up its public service remit which requires it to produce local news. He argued it was too expensive but under Adam Crozier the broadcaster’s fortunes have revived and he has renewed the commitment to regional news.
Critics argue local TV is unsustainable, particularly those who witnessed the demise of Channel M which was well-funded by the Manchester Evening News.
But the local TV licence holders say there is untapped advertising potential from companies that feel priced out by the major broadcasters, and each station will receive £150,000 from the BBC in its first year in return for content.
Your TV plans to broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is promising a mix of news, culture, entertainment, sport and some user-generated material. It shares are held by the founders and a number of other investors including former Conservative MP and London mayoral candidate Steven Norris.
