[Neil Jones]

I wouldn't mind the simulcasting half as much on Local TV if it was with a channel that isn't on Freeview already.

But at the moment its just used to bump somebody from the other end of the EPG upwards on the cheap, which wasn't really the intention.

I notice Ofcom have published some blurb today in light of the anticipated renewal of these licences. 'Ensuring local TV services understand their programming obligations'. Apparently "Last year, Ofcom conducted a monitoring exercise to understand how licensees are currently meeting their programming commitments, and identified certain practices and programming which have led us to issue this reminder to licensees about the guidance we published that set out our expectations for local TV services."

Reading between the lines it would appear that Ofcom seem to have finally decided that simulcasting TalkTV all day doesn't really count as "local" content and it seems to be a coded message to pull your finger out if you to keep your licence from 2025 if you feel this guide applies to you...

Although I suspect the secretary of state will have the final say regardless of what Ofcom want so... hmm.