The four applicants for the local television multiplex operations

A brief overview of those bidding to provide the local television multiplex services.

^{Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV 20th September 2012 at 12:59}

The four applications are:

• Avanti Local TV services Ltd
• Comux UK Ltd (not for profit)
• LMux Ltd (a BBC company)
• Local TV Multiplex Ltd (not for profit)

Avanti Local TV services Ltd

Unlike all the other bids, Avanti have taken a different approach to the bid. Rather than locate the transmitters to supply the local television multiplexes on existing broadcasting towers, Avanti propose the use of micro-sites with very low power transmissions (using a single frequency network) in each locality.

Whilst this method does seem to have certain advantages, Avanti have not yet secured the large number of sites, and to ensure that the "micro" transmitter sites appear in the correct angle for the rooftop aerials may prove problematic.

It is also unclear from their bid if they have correctly understood the use of "interleaved frequencies" for local television, as the proposed extended areas for coverage seem to imply the use of other frequency allocations.

The proposed system includes providing two semi-national services on all the local multiplexes.

Comux UK Ltd

The Comux UK proposal for multiplex services is a straightforward proposal that provides for a two semi-national channels to be distributed alongside the local services using existing Arqiva sites.

LMux Ltd

This bid is provided by the BBC, and proposes a straight-forward implementation of the Ofcom/Arqiva planned local television service using the interleaved frequencies.

The BBC point out that reuse of their existing "program information" infrastructure will allow for efficient use of the funds allocated for the local television project. The local multiplexes will be split between three channels, one providing the local licensed service and the other two semi-national channels.

Local TV multiplex Ltd

Local TV multiplex Ltd, proposed as a not-for-profit company owned by the lcoal television channels, names Arqiva and Satellite Information Services as "key partners". Like the other applications, the system proposed will integrate two "semi-national" channels into the local multiplexes, which will provide additional funding for the local television service infrastructure.