YourTV wins local TV licence for Blackpool and Preston

Ofcom has announced that the 19th local TV licence has been awarded to YourTV Blackpool & Preston.

The channel will broadcast to around 340,000 homes in the Blackpool and Preston areas, and is expected to begin broadcasting in late 2013 through digital television, using the vacant Freeview channel 8, and online.

To help cover costs, the BBC has created a £25m fund to establish the stations, and a further £5m annually for the first three years to develop content.

The news comes less than a month after YourTV was also awarded the local TV licence for Manchester.

YourTV Blackpool & Preston chairman Tony Carr said: “The support for YourTV Blackpool & Preston shown by so many local organisations across business, education and sport.”

He added: “In challenging times for many parts of the economy, we expect YourTV Blackpool & Preston to provide a boost to the area by giving local businesses new ways to talk to the customers that they already serve and reach new ones.

“A fully functioning Blackpool / Preston station is expected to generate over 20 jobs and provide many training and work experience opportunities.

“We’ve also been delighted with the encouragement we’ve had from local educational institutions, particularly the University of Central Lancashire. “We now look forward to collaborating closely with them and other key organisations in the local area including, of course, the local councils.”