[CMA TV] BBC kicks off Local TV trial

[Michelle McGuire]

BBC kicks off Local TV trial
Geoff White
02 December 2005 07:59

The BBC has launched its local TV news pilot in the West Midlands -  
supplying on-demand news services aimed at city and county level.
BBC Local TV kicked off yesterday targeting six areas, creating  
individual bulletins for each area and making local content available  
over broadband and through interactive TV.

Six-strong teams of journalists are working in each area for the nine- 
month pilot - part of the BBC's drive to boost services outside  
London. In total the BBC has recruited a 40-strong team to carry out  
the pilot.

Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire,  
Herefordshire and Worcestershire, Stoke and Staffordshire, and  
Shropshire will have their own 10-minute bulletins.

The corporation has also set aside time in the bulletins for stories  
filmed by local community groups, under the supervision of BBC  
journalists.

The BBC wants to launch similar schemes in 60 areas across the  
country, but first the pilot must pass a public value test from BBC  
governors, including a market impact test.

Source: broadcastnow.co.uk



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Michelle McGuire
Editor, Airflash Magazine
Development Officer

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