Business leaders have launched a new investment project to help Sheffield’s economy. The Big Investment Project aims to bring new opportunities for people and businesses in South Yorkshire and the North Midlands. David Richards spoke to David Thurkettle, the incoming President of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, at a special launch event at Sheffield’s Millennium Galleries, held in the run up to this year’s MADE: The Entrepreneur Festival.
Reporting by David Richards and Rachel Vine.
Sheffield Live! TV is Sheffield’s new local TV channel, launching today (watch news item here). How can you watch it – and what will it cover? Jamie Veitch explains.
It all began when a group of Sharrow community activists made a radio broadcast, from a caravan, of a four-day festival in Sharrow in 2000.
Sharrow Live – as the radio transmission was known – became Sheffield Live! 93.2FM – a community radio station, and secured a full time license to broadcast on FM radio from October 2007.
In the 7 years since Sheffield Live! has built up an eclectic and diverse schedule of radio programming featuring passionate, knowledgeable presenters, and a loyal audience of around 40,000 listeners per week.
Shows, presented by volunteers, cover local music scenes and genres including rock, folk, garage, 50s classics, ska, reggae and more. Other radio programming includes comedy, business news and interviews, film reviews, arts discussion, and topical “Communities Live” show.
Now Sheffield Live! starts a new phase, as Sheffield’s local television channel. Sheffield Live! TV, begins broadcasting this evening on Freeview Channel 8, Virgin Cable and the internet, part of a “cross-platform” media offer unique in the UK.
The new local TV service is set to broadcast news about Sheffield, alongside programmes covering Sheffield music, sport, culture and much more.
Sangita Basudev
Sangita Basudev, Director of Programming at Sheffield Live, commented,
“Our flagship daily news programme, from 6:30pm to 7pm, will give Sheffielders the latest news and key stories from the city – and our news team have already been actively covering key issues. After the news bulletin, discussion show Talking Sheffield will enable Sheffielders to dissect the topics they care most about.”
From 8pm to midnight, the channel will show new, original productions: sport, comedy, music, and more – from independent local producers, as well as video streaming of shows from the existing community radio station. And we will welcome your input, calling on Sheffielders to get involved and to bring your ideas to the station.
Sheffield’s local TV service comes in the first wave of local stations launching this year across the UK, in cities including Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Norwich, Belfast, Bristol and Oxford. All will be available within their local area on Freeview channel 8 and through Virgin cable. Sheffield’s unique geography means the city, and the local channel, have had to wait for Ofcom’s appointed infrastructure provider to build the technology necessary to enable Sheffielders to tune in. But the city was nearly not included in the Government’s first wave of places to get a local TV license.
Steve Buckley, SLTV Chair
Steve Buckley, Chair of SLTV, commentss:
“When Ofcom, the Government’s media regulator, initially advertised the opportunities to bid for local TV licenses in 19 cities in 2012, Sheffield wasn’t even on the list of the first areas. So a number of local social enterprises, businesses, education organisations, and individuals, along with the national Community Media Association, based in Sheffield, and supported by local MPs, lobbied hard for Sheffield to get its own local TV channel in this first wave.
“Once Ofcom accepted that Sheffield should have a local license, three companies bid for the right to operate it. SLTV – a locally owned organisation – secured the license.
“We know that Sheffielders want more local news, and programming about our city’s exciting music scene, local sport, our heritage and events to watch on TV. Sheffield Live TV will deliver this. And uniquely compared with other local TV channels Sheffield Live TV is community owned – it’s part of a society setup for community benefit which earlier this year raised over £165,000 of investment through a community share issue in which ordinary Sheffielders became part owners of their local media.”
The channel will operate “on a public access model, providing a platform for local talent – Made in Sheffield, Made by you.” The flagship daily news programme will cover Sheffield news in depth. Other programmes will cover Sheffield’s “rich, varied, and diverse” music, events, culture, arts, and sports and include:
and a diverse schedule of further programmes: music, sports (including The Sheffield Sharks basketball) – and more – see www.sheffieldlive.org/shows for more details.
You can watch SLTV through Freeview Channel 8 if you are tuned to the Crosspool transmitter in Sheffield and through Virgin Cable channel 159 in Sheffield (plans are also underway to add another Freeview transmitter, at Grenoside). About 450,000 people will be able to watch through these routes.
Steve Buckley, chair of SLTV Ltd., adds “Sheffield Live Television will reflect the interests of Sheffield people and communities – and provide a platform for local talent and opportunities for local businesses. It will be an open, diverse and inclusive channel, locally owned and run for community benefit. We look forward to providing Sheffield with the local news and types of programming they’ve asked for from a new local TV channel.”
Sheffield Live! TV is locally owned and run for community benefit. Get involved, send us your photos, news stories or what you want to see on air. Call us on 0114 281 4082 or email info@sheffieldlive.org
It’s Fresher’s Week and students from all over the world are coming to Sheffield to begin or resume their studies. Sheffield Live! TV spoke to Emily Connor, president of Sheffield Hallam University Student Union, about welcoming the students; and to students themselves about their plans. Report by Baillor Jalloh and Charlotte Reid.
Sheffield City Council are asking the public to reshape the care offered to people with learning disabilities in the City. The eight week consultation started last week and continues until 4th November. Councillor Mary Lea, the cabinet member for Health, Care and Independent Living spoke to Sheffield Live! TV about the consultation. Report by Charlotte Reid.
From a caravan in Sharrow to an FM radio station, to digital TV – community broadcaster Sheffield Live! starts a new phase in its journey today (Tuesday 23 September).
The new local channel will provide the city with local news, programming produced by local people and archive material. A founding member of Sheffield Live! Sangita Basudev, talks with Charlotte Reid about today’s launch.
Paul Scriven former Leader of Sheffield City Council was today granted the title Lord Scriven of Hunters Bar in the City of Sheffield. He made the announcement at a gathering of Liberal Democrats from the Asian community last night here is Sheffield. He was joined by the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg who reminded him what his job would be in the house of Lords.
Sangita Basudev and Jonny Harold report for Sheffield Live! TV
Gas safety week was launched today at The Moor Markets in Sheffield. The Road Show promotes gas and appliance safety awareness to the people of Sheffield.
Gas Safety Week is a national event which highlights the importance of checking gas appliances and making sure that people are safe in their homes.
Russell Kramer, CEO of Gas Safe Register, talks about why holding events like this are important.
Rachel Vine and David Richards report.
Sheffield’s Liberian community walked through town this weekend to raise awareness of Ebola. Akai Bazzie, who is the Senior Pastor of Christ Abiding Ministry for UK said they were marching for three things. To raise awareness of the disease itself, to raise funds for people who are affected and to ask for donations of materials such as gloves and hand sanitisers . The Ebola virus has killed about 1,000 people altogether in West Africa over the last few weeks. The Liberian people have been the worst hit by the outbreak so far.
Sangita Basudev filmed the events for Sheffield Live.
Policing the English Defence League march in Rotherham at the weekend cost £750,000 according to South Yorkshire police.
The march was organised as a protest against widespread child abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, the subject of a damning report into the response of public authorities.
Forces were drafted in to assist from across England and Wales, for the march attended by 1000 supporters of the EDL and other far right groups. Twelve arrests were made, of which seven have been charged. A counter demonstration also took place, organised by Unite Against Fascism.
Sangita Basudev filmed the events for Sheffield Live.
Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All has entered into a partnership with Sheffield City Council and have gathered at the Peace Gardens to announce their involvement in the new Plusnet Yorkshire Half Marathon.
This follows from the previous disappointment of the marathon that fell through earlier this year due to lack of water supplies on the day.
Cabinet Member Isobel Bowler said: ‘I am confident that the race organisers will be well placed to make sure that all aspects of the race will operate with great professionalism.’
The half marathon takes place on 12th April 2015 with a new route that starts and finishes in the city centre.
Reporting by Rachel Vine and Kathryn Smiles.