UK local TV operator Comux heads for Birmingham

Comux UK, the company responsible for operating the UK’s local digital-terrestrial TV infrastructure, is setting up base at Birmingham Science Park Aston’s Innovation Birmingham Campus.

Comux will occupy three suites: one dedicated to broadcast operations; one that will house the operations team; and another that will contain the servers required to power the local TV stations. The new headquarters will create 20 jobs locally.

“Basing the Comux operation at the Innovation Birmingham Campus makes absolute business sense. For one, it is an urban location in the centre of the country with very good accessibility, but crucially it is one of the only places that is capable of providing the infrastructure we need to power a UK wide network of local TV stations,” said Comux UK founder Ed Hall.

UK broadcast regulator Ofcom granted Comux a 12-year license to build and operate a local TV broadcasting platform earlier this year. The move will establish up to 60 local channels in towns and cities across the UK, with an initial 19 to launch by the end of 2013.

Alongside broadcasting on digital terrestrial TV, the local channels are expected to go live on satellite and cable TV, and online. The BBC has pledged £25 million (€26 million) of funding to the local TV initiative up to 2017, with the channels to raise their own ad revenue.