Narrowstep powers East Midlands TV

East Midlands Television (EMTV) has launched with the aim of reaching not just a local, but a global audience.

EMTV uses Narrowstep’s internet TV platform telvOS and satellite technology to broadcast news and features about the Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland areas.

Stewart Rickersey, managing director at EMTV, said: "This channel challenges the idea that the internet has created one large global village. Quite to the contrary EMTV, shows that regional tastes and differences are still as pronounced as ever, and Internet TV is the perfect vehicle for delivering local programming to an international audience"

EMTV already has many shows devoted to the land, the community, local filmmakers and history-buffs, and has secured a number of key content partnerships, including an exclusive three-year contract to cover the Lawn Tennis Association’s sporting events. EMTV is also talking to Sky about broadcasting on the satellite platform.

Todd Narwid, senior vice president of worldwide sales at Narrowstep, said: “EMTV is among the first regional broadcasters to utilize the internet to keep the international community abreast to what is happening in their part of the world. We expect more and more broadcasters to follow suit as TV over the Internet gains popularity in the UK and around the world,"

This one of many regional internet TV services launching this year. In March ITV launched ITV Local, and in the autumn Ten Alps, the production company set up by Sir Bob Geldof, is to launch Kent TV, after it won the contract for the two year pilot from Kent County Council.