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Response and proposal for Somerset TV We respond here to the Local Action Plan for the roll out of local TV in the UK and on proposed pioneer locations. Much of the plan we welcome but we have concerns in two principal areas as detailed below in the context of a proposal for Somerset TV. This is a proposal for Somerset TV, an accessible TV channel through which local communities and enterprises can broadcast and share news, sport, information, entertainment, inspiration …. an accessible hub for all aspects of county life to be represented and showcased. Who we are - and why Somerset needs local TV This proposal is led by Somerset Film, a registered charity and social enterprise which has been active for more than fifteen years promoting access to the means of producing and sharing moving image and digital media across our rural county. We operate a community media centre in one of the county’s main towns - the post industrial centre of Bridgwater - and run outreach programmes in many other locations in and beyond Somerset. We have sustained a permanent staff of four people since 2003 and employ many freelancers. We are firmly established in the county as an accessible one stop resource and development agency for all aspects of film and digital media work but since the demise of regional commissioning opportunities on the ITV network we have lacked wider audiences for much of our work. Despite this we have been successful at winning national and international awards for several recent productions with among others gypsy travellers, homeless young people, school children as well as films involving persons with learning difficulties. The lack of wider audience for our work and for the work of the other Somerset based companies has led us to look closely at the viability of a local television service for the county. We have consulted with many partners including schools, colleges, publishers, other media groups, businesses large and small, local authorities and public bodies – there is virtual unanimity of approval and support for a Somerset TV service. This is opinion informed by the experience of the short-lived Taunton TV (a highly popular service despite very poor analogue transmission) and the engaged media development work undertaken in the county by ourselves and others. We have studied the options for online and TV delivery and recognise that without question the most accessible service would undoubtedly be delivered via a DTT service, augmented by cable (not available in Somerset), IPTV and the web. We are aware that DCMS has offered an indicative list of transmitter sites and areas for the new vision for local TV and we are also aware that Somerset does not feature on the list, indeed many rural and semi-rural areas are missing from the planned provision. We hear the arguments for this view (perceived lack of economic viability in dispersed areas, unavailability of suitable existing transmission facilities) but do not believe that these represent credible reasons for not working with communities such as our own to offer local TV where it is, at least arguably, needed most. We consider it imperative that local TV be prioritised in areas traditionally poorly served by the media rather than in the large conurbations who are significantly better catered for in almost very respect, and who will be the first to enjoy the higher speeds broadband as it becomes available. Somerset is a case in point; we have no university, no large conurbation, yet in several sites - including our hometown of Bridgwater - have significant pockets of deprivation including those bearing among the highest indices of social deprivation in the region. Whilst we are also home to some very successful businesses operating on the national and international stages (e.g. Yeo Valley, Glastonbury Festival, Westland etc) we have always nevertheless been on the margins of all broadcast services – whether from HTV, from the West Country franchise or from the BBC which offers just a few hours a day of radio that is truly local and does not emanate from Bristol. There is no reason why this needs to continue to be the case and we argue strongly that this county will make an ideal pilot site for the roll out of locally relevant, locally produced and co-ordinated local TV. Whether we use space on the existing DTT masts at Mendip and Stockland Hill or whether we rig new transmission facilities on one of the many vantage points we have to choose from is a discussion for further down the line but we urge government and regulator to look closely at how this new programme is prioritised and offer Somerset – and other rural providers – the chance to be part of the new network. We say no to Muxco It is important to note here that we fully support ULTV’s position on transmission – namely that a centralised Muxco cannot work to our We believe there is a real danger that if government proceed with Muxco the sector will effectively be stillborn. For all the reasons argued in the ULTV submission the individual services such as Somerset must be allowed to have control over their own transmission. In summary Over fifteen years of making media and sustaining a social enterprise based production base in Somerset tells us that the county needs a local TV service and that it can be viable without recourse to public subsidy for the core service or content. The provision of local TV in the county will make without question a massive difference to the health and viability of Somerset’s economic and cultural life for decades to come. Please see below for Appendix The value of local TV in Somerset Appendix The value of local TV in Somerset Somerset TV can address many of the issues affecting the county today as highlighted in the current ‘Somerset Economic Assessment’. By providing a forum and showcase for local community and local enterprise, by providing access and training, by sourcing diverse and imaginative content, by strengthening links between business and community Somerset TV will grow economic well-being (enterprise and business profiles) tackle rural isolation and raise aspiration (local news and features) motivate and inspire individuals and communities (access to opportunities) drive competition between businesses and increase innovation (ads and sponsorship) strengthen local distinctiveness and identity (partnership content production) promote access to employment and skills (FE, HE engagement) encourage media literacy (schools etc) promote graduate retention (local entrepreneurship etc) Somerset TV will help address issues for the local economy by raising the distinctive profile of the county and helping to attract tourism and inward investment raising awareness of and access to the knowledge economy raising skill levels and encouraging independent learning addressing under representation in the business sector by raising the profile of what is on offer across the county providing a powerful means of communicating key messages between peer organisations and from local/regional/(inter)national public sources embedding the creative industries at the heart of economic development