ULTV welcomes local TV review

United For Local Television (ULTV) has welcomed culture secretary Jeremy Hunt's confirmation of an independent review of local TV in Britain.

In a speech today in London, Hunt announced that Lazard's head of UK investment banking Nick Schott will start an "independent commercial assessment" of local TV in the summer.

In the review, Schott will "look at the potential for commercially viable local television stations within the local media landscape right across the nations and regions of the UK".

ULTV spokesperson Daniel Cass said that he is "delighted" a long-awaited independent review of the local TV sector is due to get under way.

"We have always said there are viable business models for local TV but there needs to be a will from government to explore the policy options including issues such as access to spectrum and EPG priority," he said.

"We look forward to contributing to the review and will do all we can to help ensure a strong and successful local and community TV network emerges."

ULTV has previously argued that local TV services should be delivered under a unified Channel 6 branding and given spectrum on digital terrestrial television.