Ofcom approve changes to Mustard TV, That’s Manchester and That’s Lancashire

Ofcom has agreed to requests from three local TV services for variations in their programming commitments. Mustard TV, That’s Manchester and That’s Lancashire have asked for changes to the hours or scheduling of local programming.

Some of the changes will see East Anglia’s Mustard TV ditch 225 minutes per week allocated to the airing of a local magazine programme. This was due to increase to 170 minutes per-week from next year, this has been entirely dropped with the departure of the programme slot.

For That’s Manchester the prosal of airing factual entertainment programming has been dropped as has the amount of hours of some of the output. First run new programming has been slashed from 88 hours per week to 66.5 hours. The channel has cut its Monday to Sunday Local Breakfast News, Lunchtime bullitin and Evening Local News output. Also dropped are the 15 hours per week allocated to current affairs.

“Ofcom has decided to agree to the requests, which it considers will not substantially alter the overall character of these services.” – Ofcom

These latest changes follow recent amendments to other Local TV services in early October which saw the cutting down of regional content to channels That’s Solent, NVTV in Belfast, Made in Bristol, Made in Cardiff, Made in Leeds and Made in Tyne and Wear.

The Local TV networks offer a range of topical programmes concentrating on content relevant to the areas served. Programmes include chat shows, music performance, sport debate and current affairs. The channels have in some regions also taken to screening repeats with the STV stations in Scotland repeating former ITV Scottish soap Take The High Road and Big Centre TV in the West Midlands showing a range of archive series ranging from ATV soap opera Crossroads to children’s entertainment show Tiswas.

Local TV operates on Channel 8 on Freeview and 159 on Virgin Media. Some channels also transmit on Sky 117.