Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the definition of local broadcasting to mean content broadcast within the local licensing transmission area.

The Government recently consulted on the renewal of local TV licences. This consultation also addressed the current statutory objectives for local TV. Those objectives compel services to be distinctive and meet the needs and interests of those living or working in the locality they are received in.

The Government’s view, as set out in the consultation document, is that the current objectives still act as a pivotal framework for local TV services to operate within and provide clarity for providers when making local content. The objectives also ensure the main beneficiary of local TV output is the viewer and that the specific area and locality of the service remains at the heart of local content. Whilst we are not currently minded to amend the statutory objectives, we have sought stakeholder views on the matter through the consultation process. The consultation responses are currently being analysed and the Government will publish a response in due course.