Ofcom begins local TV auction


The communications regulator Ofcom has opened an auction for spectrum to allow two local TV stations for the Manchester and Cardiff areas. The 8MHZ channels to be auctioned have been termed white spaces because they are used as guard frequencies in the UK TV spectrum plan and do not have services available in these regions.
The new channels could serve around 180,000 homes in the Welsh capital and around 500,000 households in Manchester.
The closing date for applications for the Manchester licence is January 26, 2009, the Cardiff auction closes on February 18.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 12th January 2009