Jeremy Hunt looks to have dropped his personally-vaunted national local TV network in favour of individually licensed stations.

The culture secretary has struggled to gather much support for his idea to create a ‘spine’ of connected services and is now looking for a a “more financially secure” system.

He originally aimed to raise £15m per year in advertising and bidders were invited to run a national spine for a new Local TV network on Channel 6 which would provide nationally syndicated programming.

But after a period of consultation, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has decided that a locally-focused approach would be more feasible.

A final policy statement is now expected in July, but Press Gazette reports that “the Government favours an initial network of between 10 and 20 stations” that will be funded with £40m from the BBC licence fee.

A DCMS statement said: “The culture secretary is now looking at whether a ‘bottom up’ approach of individual licensed stations rather than prescribing a centralised ‘top-down’ approach is the right model – although he has not yet taken a final decision.

“Within the right regulatory framework, a series of individual stations could be more financially secure without reliance on a dominant network centre, and could be implemented much faster through secondary legislation.”

Hunt added: “The consultation showed that there is incredibly strong support for the principle of truly local TV. I have been particularly struck by the large number of local groups – particularly outside London – who are keen to deliver this for their own communities. I have also met local community groups and media organisations up and down the country and have been impressed at their enthusiasm for local TV.

“While I have not yet taken a final decision, it may be that a series of individual stations is the best way to deliver local TV.”

(Source: Press Gazette)

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