ULTV needs your help to make MPs and government aware of the groundswell of support from for new local TV channels to launch on Freeview.

If you want to see your area have its own local TV station please email, write or visit your MP. A sample email is set out below – this is a guide only and can be re-written in your own words if you wish.

Please make sure you include your own home address so your MP can write to you with a reply. It would be extremely helpful if you would send ULTV copies of any replies you receive from your MP.

You can find out who your MP is and their email address at the Parliament website here.

You may also wish to send a letter supporting local TV to the letters of page of your local newspaper. If published, please do send ULTV a copy.

SAMPLE EMAIL FOR YOU TO SEND TO YOUR MP

Dear [Insert name of MP]

Local TV is one of the most demanded new applications in independent research commissioned by the communications regulator, Ofcom, for its digital dividend review. According to Ofcom, “local TV on Freeview” is the number one new application personally demanded by UK consumers, ahead of both “extra SD channels” and “HD on Freeview”.

Despite overwhelming evidence of public support for local TV the government has still not carried out its promise to introduce a new network of local TV channels.

As you may be aware, the campaign group United for Local Television (ULTV) has proposed that the ‘sixth’ channel on both Freeview and cable be reserved as a ‘local’ channel in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (the Scottish Local TV Federation has put forward its own proposals for local TV in Scotland). Ofcom has confirmed that ULTV’s proposal to use so-called ‘add/drop’ technology would offer “the most consistent and convenient solution” for local TV.

The UK is the one of the only countries in the entire democratic world not to have a thriving local TV sector. This is no accident. It reflects a systematic failure by successive UK regulators to put in place an effective licensing regime for local TV channels.

As well as providing local news and a range of other programmes, local TV would finally end ITV1’s monopoly over terrestrial TV advertising in local markets, offering the attractive prospect of a cost-effective alternative for local businesses.

I hope you will agree with me that no citizen should be denied access to local news and information on TV. Please would you be good enough to write to the Culture Secretary, urging the government to direct Ofcom to reserve access to spectrum for local TV.

I would very much appreciate your support for this important campaign.

Yours sincerely

[Your name]