Inman to serve on City TV board

WELL-known businessman Derek Inman has joined the board of City TV, which is in the bidding to run a local TV channel for Birmingham.

Inman took early retirement as BT’s head of UK regions for the Midlands, Wales and the West in 2002 to pursue volunteer roles and other charitable work. He is a past chairman of Birmingham Forward and the Birmingham and Solihull Learning Exchange and headed up the Birmingham Community Foundation for three years.

City TV chief executive Debra Davis said: “Plans are moving rapidly ahead to launch City TV in the Birmingham area. Derek’s appointment follows two successful business briefings that attracted 150 people. We have an exceptionally attractive investment opportunity and City TV is gaining support with business leaders like Derek, and the wider business community.  

‘We are thrilled that Derek has joined the team. He is the first of our new appointments. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our venture – especially from his previous role as a member of Ofcom’s English Advisory Committee and as head of UK regions for BT.”

Inman said: “This is such an exciting opportunity for Birmingham. The government is changing broadcast regulations to help make local TV more commercially viable.  Our intention is to pre-empt our application for the DTT licence by launching on other platforms first, such as Sky and online. We intend to get programmes on air within the next few months – once funding is all in place.”
 
The government has recently announced its plans for a new local television framework . City TV intends to file an application for the Local-Digital Television Programme Service (L-DTPS) licence for Birmingham and, if successful,
secure other licences through development, acquisition or affiliation.