Category: W.Midlands Local TV; Â鶹Éçi
Date: 29.11.2005
Printable version
The Â鶹Éç's pilot for its new local television news service launches in the West Midlands this week.
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The nine month scheme - starting on Thursday 1 December - uses the latest broadcasting technology to create different kinds of local television news in six different areas of the West Midlands.
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They are: Birmingham; the Black Country; Coventry and Warwickshire; Herefordshire and Worcestershire; Stoke and Staffordshire; and Shropshire.
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Â鶹Éç Local TV will bring the very best news stories, entertainment, travel and weather from each area in ten minute bulletins broadcast every hour on digital satellite and available on demand for broadband users.
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A team of specially trained video journalists are based in each area with one journalist dedicated to producing community content - as each service includes content generated by individuals and organisations from the locality.
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Via Â鶹Éçi on digital satellite, viewers can access the service by pressing the red button on their remote control and broadband users can visit bbc.co.uk/localtv.
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The material will be available in separate 'chunks' on the site, as well as a combined ten minute bulletin.
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David Holdsworth is Head of Regional & Local Programmes, Â鶹Éç West Midlands and Project Manager for the pilot.
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He says: "We know there's a strong demand for a more local television service, but until now the technology has not allowed us to deliver it.
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"It's particularly exciting that local people will be able use their own cameras to help film the community part of the bulletins too."
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Notes to Editors
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On digital satellite, the timings for each service are:
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Birmingham - on the hour;
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Coventry and Warwickshire - ten past;
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Hereford and Worcester - 20 past;
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the Black Country - on the half hour;
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Shropshire - 20 to;
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and Staffordshire - ten to.
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Once the pilot scheme is completed a rigorous independent public value test will be conducted, including an assessment of its market impact in the West Midlands and detailed scrutiny by the Â鶹Éç's Board of Governors.
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Subject to this appraisal, the Â鶹Éç then hopes to introduce around 60 similar services across the UK as a key part of its Out of London strategy.
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This strategy was first outlined in Building Public Value, the Â鶹Éç's manifesto for the next Charter period published in June 2004.
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CD2/LN
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