Following the completion of its first round of local TV licensing, Ofcom invited expressions of interest in 30 further areas that the successful local multiplex licence applicant, Comux UK, had committed to cover. Following this invitation, we received a small number of requests asking us to consider merging some locations, for which we had sought separate expressions of interest, and to advertise a single local TV (L-DTPS) licence for the merged area.
Following a short consultation in June 2013, Ofcom published a statement confirming the merger of:
- Tonbridge and Maidstone (now referred to as Maidstone); and
- Hereford and Gloucester (now referred to as Gloucester).
We also invited views on whether we should consult on merging any other areas for which we had determined technical feasibility, and received requests to consult on merging:
- Luton and Bedford; and
- Gloucester and Malvern.
Therefore Ofcom published a further short consultation on merging the above areas on 12 August 2013.
We received 5 responses to this consultation. These were from two individuals, 2 potential applicants for L-DTPS licences (University of Bedfordshire and The Triple Broadcasting Co) and the local multiplex licensee, Comux UK. Having considered these responses we have reached our final decision on these two questions which is set out below. We do not anticipate any further consultations on the definitions of local areas.
Luton and Bedford
We received one response from a potential applicant for an L-DTPS licence in these areas, the University of Bedfordshire. The respondent argued that these coverage areas should be merged because:
- The two towns share cultural similarities; and
- A larger coverage area would make a licence in this area more viable.
Comux UK responded that the question of merging these areas is one for any potential L-DTPS licence applicants to consider, noting that a merged coverage area would be unlikely to materially reduce costs as it would still need to be covered from two transmitters.
The individual respondent (from Bedford) was not in favour of merging these coverage areas, arguing that local news is of interest only if it is targeted at Bedford, and news targeted at Luton would not be of interest.
Based on the responses we have received, we consider that we should advertise the Luton and Bedford coverage areas as a single licensed area. This is because we think that merging the two areas would make the licensed service more viable. We consider that the conditions and requirements for the award of an L-DTPS Licence, as set out in the Local Digital Television Programme Services Order 2012, will ensure that the licensed service will meet the needs of the area or locality where it is received.
Following our established policy of naming coverage areas after the principal conurbation in the area, this merged coverage area will be referred to as Luton. We do not anticipate that we will need to produce any further indicative coverage planning for this area.
Gloucester and Malvern
We received one response from a potential licence applicant, The Triple Broadcasting Co. The respondent supported merging these two areas, primarily because:
- A larger, merged area would make a licence more viable in this area;
- There are significant cultural similarities and institutional links between these two areas; and
- A merged Malvern/Gloucester area would be "likely to [be] creatively and editorially improved by covering a single area, in a way that more closely matches the audiences real life relationship with the communities and geography served."
Comux UK responded that the question of merging these areas is one for any potential L-DTPS licence applicants to consider, noting that a merged coverage area would be unlikely to materially reduce costs as it would still need to be covered from two transmitters.
The individual respondent was not in favour of merging these coverage areas, arguing that Malvern shared greater cultural affinity with Worcester rather than Malvern.
Based on the responses we received, we consider that we should advertise the Gloucester and Malvern coverage areas as a single licensed area because this will provide a material increase in coverage for the network overall, which may make it more likely that we receive viable licence applications for this area. We are satisfied that there are local affinities between the merged areas and that the conditions and requirements for the award of an L-DTPS Licence, as set out in the Local Digital Television Programme Services Order 2012, will ensure that the licensed service will meet the needs of the area or locality where it is received.
Following our established policy of naming coverage areas after the principal conurbation in the area, this merged coverage area will be referred to as Gloucester. We do not anticipate that we will need to produce any further indicative coverage planning for this area.
What we are asking and why
Ofcom has now completed its first round of local TV licensing and has invited expressions of interest in 30 further areas that the successful local multiplex licence applicant, Comux UK, has committed to cover. On 19 June 2013, we consulted on the question of merging coverage areas for a small number of specific locations, and on whether we should consult on merging any further locations (“the June Consultation”). The June Consultation and the Statement following it are available on our website.
Of the seven responses to our June Consultation, we received one asking us to consider merging Luton and Bedford, for which we had previously invited separate expressions of interest, in order to advertise a single local TV (L-DTPS) licence for the merged area. We also received a response asking us to merge the enlarged Gloucester coverage area with the planned Malvern coverage area.
However, other respondents expressed interest in these areas as separate licences.
We therefore consider that we should take into account the views of all those who expressed interest, and wider local views, before deciding whether to merge these areas.
Luton and Bedford
Our 2012 coverage planning indicates that it is not possible to serve both of these areas from a single transmitter. Therefore, Luton would be served by the Luton transmitter, and Bedford would be served by the Sandy Heath transmitter. As currently planned, these two coverage areas may not be contiguous. Although it may be possible to extend coverage at one of these locations by building practical transmission facilities that differ from the assumptions used in the 2012 coverage planning (for more detail on these assumptions see the Coverage Note), there is no guarantee that this is feasible, and there may still be gaps between one coverage area and another.
Gloucester and Malvern
In our June Consultation we consulted on the question of merging the Hereford and Gloucester coverage areas into one single coverage area. Having considered the responses to the consultation, we have decided to advertise one single local TV licence for these two planned locations.
One of the respondents to our June Consultation suggested in addition that this enlarged coverage area should be merged with the Malvern area. As we have received expressions of interest for Malvern as a separate coverage area, we consider that we should take into account the views of those who expressed interest, and any wider local views, before deciding whether to proceed with this merger.
Our 2012 coverage planning indicates that it is not possible to serve both of these areas from a single transmitter. Therefore, Malvern would be served by the Malvern transmitter, and Gloucester would be served by the Ridge Hill transmitter. As currently planned, these two coverage areas may not be contiguous. Although it may be possible to extend coverage at one of these locations by building practical transmission facilities that differ from the assumptions used in the 2012 coverage planning (for more detail on these assumptions see the Coverage Note), there is no guarantee that this is feasible, and there may still be gaps between one coverage area and another.
We are therefore consulting on the following question. When responding, please indicate who you are, and your interest in this question. Although we welcome responses from any interested party, this question is aimed in particular at respondents in the affected coverage areas, and at potential applicants for these licences. Where possible, please support your reasoning with evidence or data (please indicate if this is confidential).
Q1. Do you think we should merge the Luton and Bedford areas and advertise a single licence, or advertise these as separate licences? Why?
Q2. Do you think we should merge the Gloucester and Malvern areas and advertise a single licence, or advertise these as separate licence? Why?
We are seeking views on these particular coverage areas because of responses we received to our previous consultation. Please therefore note that we are not seeking views at this time on any other coverage areas than the two mentioned above. We are also not seeking views on any coverage areas that we have already licensed or advertised.
Please also note that we are not seeking views on extensions to coverage areas, as we have already set out a process by which licensees may negotiate such extensions with the local multiplex operator.
We have already consulted on the question of whether there are any further areas that potential applicants may wish to suggest as suitable for mergers of this kind, and are not consulting any further on this question. We do not anticipate any further consultation on merging areas once this consultation has closed.
How to respond
The closing date for responses is 5pm on 9 September 2013.
There are two ways to respond to this consultation.
Online
The quickest and simplest way to respond is to complete our online consultation response form. This is ideal for people who have specific brief points to make and/or do not need to attach large documents to their response.
By email
For larger consultation responses – particularly those with supporting charts, tables or other data – please email local.tv@ofcom.org.uk attaching your response in Microsoft Word format, together with a consultation coversheet. We will confirm receipt of any responses received via email.
Please do not send hard copies via post.