BBC extends ultra-local TV to mobiles
The BBC's ultra-local television trial is being expanded to mobile phones. Launched last November the nine-month trial in the West Midlands is using latest broadcasting technology to create 10-minute bulletins on digital satellite and broadband internet for Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, Stoke and Staffordshire, and Shropshire.
Now the trial—which ends later this month—offers local bulletins on mobile phones. Mobile owners in the area just need to text 'localtv' to 81010 to receive a link to the service, which is free—though operators charge for the amount of data downloaded.
The ultra-local television trial is testing both the technology used in newsgathering and distribution, as well as consumer appetite for the service.
A public value test would have to be conducted before the corporation rolled out ultra-local television services around the UK. At the time of the launch the BBC said it had 60 UK areas it wanted to offer local TV bulletins for as a key part of its Out of London strategy.
The public value test will include an assessment of the impact local TV services could have on commercial rivals. Local newspaper groups have already voiced their opposition to the BBC going very local.
And in May shadow chancellor George Osborne said the BBC—currently negotiating the level of the licence fee needed to meet its obligations in digital-only broadcasting—said that while ultra local television "might sound like a reasonable idea … it could have a ruinous effect on local newspapers and local radio stations".
Regards Satdude.
The BBC's ultra-local television trial is being expanded to mobile phones. Launched last November the nine-month trial in the West Midlands is using latest broadcasting technology to create 10-minute bulletins on digital satellite and broadband internet for Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, Stoke and Staffordshire, and Shropshire.
Now the trial—which ends later this month—offers local bulletins on mobile phones. Mobile owners in the area just need to text 'localtv' to 81010 to receive a link to the service, which is free—though operators charge for the amount of data downloaded.
The ultra-local television trial is testing both the technology used in newsgathering and distribution, as well as consumer appetite for the service.
A public value test would have to be conducted before the corporation rolled out ultra-local television services around the UK. At the time of the launch the BBC said it had 60 UK areas it wanted to offer local TV bulletins for as a key part of its Out of London strategy.
The public value test will include an assessment of the impact local TV services could have on commercial rivals. Local newspaper groups have already voiced their opposition to the BBC going very local.
And in May shadow chancellor George Osborne said the BBC—currently negotiating the level of the licence fee needed to meet its obligations in digital-only broadcasting—said that while ultra local television "might sound like a reasonable idea … it could have a ruinous effect on local newspapers and local radio stations".
Regards Satdude.