View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
September 22, 2005updated 22 Nov 2022 4:50pm

BBC distorts ultra-local TV

By Press Gazette

Your correspondent Steve Egginton seems to have got the wrong end of
the stick about the BBC’s ultra-local TV plans (16 September). Regional
newspaper publishers are well aware that local TV is going to happen –
that is why they are investing and innovating in this area now.

A
number of groups have already ventured into local TV and are
experimenting with delivering video and text to local audiences, to
complement their traditional text and pictures. Others are developing
plans for such services. They know full well that ultra-local TV
presents a major opportunity for them. That is exactly why they object
to the BBC’s plans.

These early pioneers must be given the
freedom to develop their businesses in an environment that supports
commercial innovation.

Our concern is that a publicly funded
broadcaster could undermine innovation in commercial publishing
operations and distort investment decisions through unfair recourse to
scale economies, branding, crosspromotion, and privileged distribution.

The question is not whether regional publishers will embrace local TV, but whether they will be allowed to.

Lynne Anderson communications director The Newspaper Society

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network