Category: W.Midlands Local TV; BBCi
Date: 31.01.2006
Printable version
People in Birmingham are being given the opportunity to find out more about the BBC's Local TV news pilot, when a special roadshow rolls into Sutton Coldfield.
On Monday 6 February the roadshow visits Tesco, New Oscott, on Princess Alice Drive, Sutton Coldfield from 11.00am to 6.00pm.
Everybody who goes along to the road show will get a chance to be the winner of a great BBC 'money can't buy prize'.
Prizes include an opportunity to visit the set of BBC ONE daytime drama Doctors, accompany our BBC commentary team to a Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion or Aston Villa game and a make-over with a professional BBC make-up artist.
There will be a crew on hand to answer questions about BBC Local TV and how it works.
People can also tell the team about any burning local issues they would like featured on Local TV.
Notes to Editors
The BBC Local TV news pilot was launched on 1 December 2005.
The nine month scheme uses the latest broadcasting technology to create different kinds of local television news in six different areas of the West Midlands: Birmingham; the Black Country; Coventry and Warwickshire; Herefordshire and Worcestershire; Stoke and Staffordshire; and Shropshire.
BBC Local TV brings news stories, entertainment, sport, travel and weather from each area in ten minute bulletins broadcast every hour on digital satellite and available on demand for broadband users.
Via BBCi on digital satellite, viewers can access the service by pressing the red button on their remote control and broadband users can visit bbc.co.uk/localtv.
The material is available in separate 'chunks' on the site, as well as a combined ten minute bulletin.
Once the pilot scheme is completed a rigorous independent public value test will be conducted, including an assessment of its market impact in the West Midlands and detailed scrutiny by the BBC Board of Governors.
Subject to this appraisal, the BBC then hopes to introduce around 60 similar services across the UK as a key part of its 'Out of London' strategy.
This strategy was first outlined in Building Public Value, the BBC's manifesto for the next Charter period published in June 2004.
