The BBC is to scrap plans to offer 60 local TV channels on satellite.

Citing the need to make efficiency savings as part of the wide-ranging "Delivering Creative Future" plan outlined today by director-general Mark Thompson, the BBC said that resources have been shifted from launching the channels to producing "high-quality content for the rapidly increasing number of broadband users" to be delivered on a new MyLocalNow website offering.

A pilot local TV service was launched for the West Midlands in December 2005.