Comux awarded licence to create infrastructre for local TV

OfcomOfcom has announced that Comux has been awarded a 12-year licence, responsible for building and maintaining the technical infrastructure required to broadcast the 19 local TV services on digital terrestrial TV.

The multiplex operator is required to cover all of the initial 19 local TV locations and applicants were also asked to propose additional areas to cover. Applicants could select from 44 other such areas, where coverage is technically possible, or make a case for other locations to be added.

As well as broadcasting the local TV channels, the multiplex operator can broadcast two additional video streams, which can be leased to other organisations on a quasi-national commercial basis.

Ofcom began awarding the new television licences last year. STV Group were awarded licences to run the new local television services for Scotland’s main cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh. In total 14 licences have been awarded so far with Ofcom expecting to confirm more in the coming months.

[Written by Shaun Linden, source: Ofcom]