The European Commission has given the green light to state funding towards the capital infrastructure needed for UK local television service.
With the Commission’s decision through, the way is now cleared for the government, as part of an agreement with the BBC Trust, to build the local DTT multiplex that will host the services on the Freeview platform.
The multiplex will be built by the winner of the multiplex licence, which Ofcom is expected to award before the end of this year.
Under the decision the BBC has also received approval for a funding agreement with the successful multiplex operator.
It is expected this will be formalized in January 2013 with the actual build commencing in the early spring.
The first broadcasts are expected later in 2013.
