[Keith]

You could say the same about the ones that aren't providing a local service. Is the local multiplex actually costing the taxpayer anything any more? I'm assuming no and it all pays for itself via the licenses (please enlighten me if this isn't the case)? So what would be the benefit in closing it down and putting people out of work? Even if the services are nowhere near as good as they were meant to be, they're still ultimately employing some people and are fitting within the current Ofcom rules. They're essentially harmless so is there any point in closing them?

I suspect the only reason it's lasted so long is that it was one of the pet/flagship policy of the current government when they first got elected back in 2020. Given the the then minister for the DCMS is currently the chancellor this might have been a factor in OFCOM originally planning to extend the licences based on legislation that was expected to pass through parliament.

Unless opinion polls are wildly wrong it's highly likely there will be a change in the party that's running the country in a month's time. They will feel less inclined to keep something that overall isn't really working as planned, as it wasn't a flagship project of there's, so it's not as embarrassing if they need/decide to axe it.

Whilst there are a couple of local TV services providing true local TV the majority are taking the proverbial. I think some operators only value the channel 6/7 position on Freeview, and not the amount of local output they produce (let alone the quality of it).