Hunt unveils local television shortlist

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt yesterday announced the 65 locations which are in the running to launch the local television services which he has championed. The towns and cities – which have been chosen because they have the appropriate transmitter coverage – will be whittled down to around 20 by the end of the year.

Each of the areas will now be asked to make the case for why their town should be among those awarded a licence by Ofcom, with the first wave due next year.

The Government is also canvassing opinion from potential operators about which locations are likely to make the scheme a success.

Mr Hunt said: "We need to decide which areas are best placed to pioneer the new service. These new, local television services will be a fundamental change in how people get information about their own communities, and how they hold their representatives to account."

Mr Hunt will host a series of events around the country to discuss how local television could benefit communities.