In the past few months, I have become greatly involved in an initiative to campaign for and promote the concept of digital local TV for Dundee, Fife, Angus and Perth & Kinross.With the support of TayScreen and the Institute of Local TV (ILT), an initial working group has been formed, consisting of representatives from the production, business, business development and college/university sectors in Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perth & Kinross. I was pleased to welcome representatives to an initial meeting some weeks ago to obtain views on developing regional TV stations and broadcast transmission capacity and potential demand for local services.
The local authorities covering Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perth and Kinross have already been involved in lobbying Ofcom (the UK regulator for TV and communications) based on the view that there is a strong case for Fife and Tayside being involved in the opportunities that local TV may bring. Other areas such as Edinburgh and Glasgow will have local TV. Fife and Tayside can provide evidence both of consumer demand and of the technical and business capacity to support the operation of local TV transmission and content production for broadcast.
The local authorities covering Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perth and Kinross have already been involved in lobbying Ofcom (the UK regulator for TV and communications) based on the view that there is a strong case for Fife and Tayside being involved in the opportunities that local TV may bring. Other areas such as Edinburgh and Glasgow will have local TV. Fife and Tayside can provide evidence both of consumer demand and of the technical and business capacity to support the operation of local TV transmission and content production for broadcast.
We are lucky that across the Tayside and Fife regions, we have vibrant print and radio media and there is no doubt from the popularity of the former Channel 6 local TV service in Dundee that a local television service for the region would an asset for our area. The analogue switch-off and move to digital presents a unique opportunity to provide local/community television across the UK.
You can read more about the working group and the issue of local television in our region by looking at the TayScreen website - simply click on the headline above to view. If you are interested in getting involved or have any questions, please send them to tv@tayscreenscotland.com - many thanks.