SLTV wins licence

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Sheffield Local Television (SLTV) has been awarded the licence to operate Sheffield’s first digital local television channel.

The decision, taken by communications regulator Ofcom, follows 20 months of campaigning by the Sheffield-based consortium which includes Sheffield Live! 93.2 FM.

Steve Buckley, Chair of SLTV, said: “We are delighted to hear that SLTV has won the local TV licence for Sheffield. We extend a huge thanks to all our supporters who have backed the SLTV bid and contribute to its development. SLTV will be an open, diverse and inclusive channel, locally owned and not run for profit.”

Richard Motley, Managing Director of Sheffield’s Cultural Industries Quarter Agency, said: “The local TV channel for Sheffield is a great opportunity for the city to showcase local talent and creativity and to build the digital and creative economy.”

SLTV represents a consortium of Sheffield-based organisations launched in 2011 and led by Community Media Solutions Ltd (CMS), a Sheffield-based media development agency, and Cultural Industries Quarter Agency (CIQA), an urban regeneration and economic development agency with a focus on Sheffield’s creative and digital industries.

Participants include Sheffield Live, Kinematic Media, South Yorkshire Film-makers Network, Sheffield Independent Film Training (SHIFT), Visualis, Sero Consulting, Sheffield Media and Exhibition Centre, Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival, Tramlines Festival, Studio of the North, Sheffield University, Sheffield Hallam University and The Sheffield College.

The consortium has been supported by Sheffield City Council, Creative Sheffield and Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.

SLTV hopes to commence broadcasting by the end of 2013 and will offer local news and information, cultural programming, a platform for independent and community producers and opportunities for local business and public sector organisations.