Canis Media first to declare hand for Ofcom Local TV ‘MuxCo’ Licence

Editor ©RapidTVNews | 01-03-2012


Even though local TV in the UK has not developed anywhere like how the UK government has hoped, Canis Media, has become the first company to express interest in bidding for a Local TV ‘MuxCo’ licence.
The UK broadcast advice specialist, through its newly formed company, Comux UK, has formally notified UK broadcasting and telecoms regulator Ofcom of an expression of interest in bidding for one of the new broadcast licences which both government and regulator hope potential local television operators will be applying for in the next few months. Ofcom will be simultaneously awarding the licence for the company that will operate the transmission infrastructure.
Comux UK will be structured to ensure that the maximum possible return on the value of the gifted capacity is invested in local TV programming.
Potential local television operators will be applying for the new broadcast licences in the next few months, and Ofcom will be simultaneously awarding the licence for the company that will operate the transmission infrastructure.
Comux UK says that it intends to bid for the licence and work on behalf of the licensees to ensure value for money and a high quality of service provision.
Commented Chief Executive, Ed Hall, who will lead the bid, formulated following publication of the BBC’s local digital TV funding contribution arrangements: “We believe that our business plan will provide a commercially sustainable and robust solution to the unique challenges facing local TV operators whilst providing an attractive return to all our stakeholders – including the commercial partners, the licence holders themselves and the local TV industry as a whole.

“Local TV stations will need a wide range of services available to them, many of which a traditional broadcaster would already have in-house. I think it is vital that these services are made available on the kind of terms that only a well-managed national organisation could achieve.”
As part of the initiative, the company's newly appointed Head of Local TV will chair a representative council of UK Local TV Licence bidders, which the company says will enable a constant dialogue between the potential multiplex operator and the bidders.
Comux UK also plans to operate a national commercial model for the sale and management of advertising which will be available to local stations on an opt in/opt out basis.