Winchester & Chandler's Ford MP Steve Brine spoke in the Commons on Thursday 8th September to draw attention to a bid for local TV centring around the University of Winchester.
In a question to the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt MP, Steve asked what progress had been made implementing the recommendations of the Shott Review, before he went on to discuss the bid.
He said: "I thank the Secretary of State for his reply and driving local TV forward with such belief.
"Can I draw his attention to a bid for a local TV licence that is being put together in my constituency, which places the outstanding media and journalism facilities at the University of Winchester at its heart?
"Does the Minister agree that - if local TV is to be a success this time and train the next generation of Dimbleby's - we must draw on the rich technical expertise and media production facilities that some of our universities and their students have to offer?"
The Secretary of State replied in agreement, saying that universities were often the most enthusiastic, as they see the opportunities to be found in this sector. He also went on to say that there was a big opportunity for the sector in creating jobs.
Speaking back in August, Mr Hunt said: "These new, local TV services will be a fundamental change in how people get information about their own communities, and how they hold their representatives to account.
"There's a huge appetite for local news and information in communities the length and breadth of the country. I want people to be able to watch television that's truly relevant to them, about what's happening where they live and featuring the people they know.
"The first licences will be open to bidders in just a few months. But before then, we need to decide which areas are best placed to pioneer the new service. In deciding the order in which licences should be made available, we need to judge the level of interest from potential broadcasters and audiences, and take the views of companies interested in bidding for the single multiplex licence."
Steve Brine has recently been in touch with Steve Harris, the Accreditations Secretary for the Broadcast Journalism Training Council. This is the largest Journalism Accreditation body in the UK, and represents more than 60 universities and colleges courses across the UK.
As BJTC's Accreditations Secretary, Mr Harris is responsible for visiting colleges and universities around the UK to accredit their broadcast journalism courses.
He is also the Co-ordinator for Colleges and Universities for Local TV, a group that has been campaigning to use the 'untapped resources' of colleges and universities to make local TV a viable industry.
He is now playing a leading role in creating a consortium of major local stakeholders, based around two local universities, Southampton Solent and the University of Winchester, to bid for a local TV licence from Ofcom for the Southampton and Winchester area.
This district is one of the areas with good GI spectrum coverage, which means local organisations can mount a bid to run a local TV station for the area. The bids will judged on criteria including financial viability, local involvement, quality of output and impact.
More information...
Find out more about the Shott Review at
http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/Local-TV-Report-Dec10_FullReport.pdf and you can watch the question session at http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=8935&wfs=true.
You can view a transcript of the session at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110908/debtext/110908-0001.htm#11090852000010.