EXCITEMENT is all around on the Isle of Bute after Bute TV made a surprise launch last month on social networking website Facebook, displaying a number of ready-to-go films and a link to Bute’s own streaming community TV channel.
The station was set up by Bute residents Nicola Jones, an artist and tutor on the island; Angela Haggerty, a trainee journalist; and Peter Wallace, a local businessman and secretary of Bute Community Council.
Nicola said: “We had all noticed that there was a big push going on in the country for local TV and after myself, Peter and Angela had a chat, we realised we were all having the same idea.
”We decided we may as well go for it. Doing it online doesn’t cost a phenomenal amount of money; it’s worth giving it a try. This is a great opportunity for people to actively get involved in the online world, and share their interests with the local community and beyond.”
The not-for-profit channel will allow Bute residents to get involved in filming and displaying news, reviews and fun from the island. It is hoped it will provide an opportunity for Bute’s younger people to become involved in local TV and gain valuable experience and confidence.
“To begin with the content will be on-demand”, said Peter, “with viewers visiting the website and playing the videos which interest them, but eventually we hope to be able to be able to programme a set amount of time each week, and even stream live content from events around the island.”
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced in August that 65 UK regions would be eligible to apply for local TV licenses that would enable broadcasting on digital terrestrial TV platform Freeview.
Greenock, Glasgow and Ayr were identified as eligible areas, and an Inverclyde TV Facebook page appeared shortly after, encouraging consideration and discussion on the prospect.
Bute TV however, is happy to remain an online station – for now.
“Going down the route of local TV licenses would be expensive and complicated, and nobody really knows yet whether that will work. We think that the future is online and we want to pursue that,” Nicola said. “We’re keeping an open mind though. We don’t know yet where this will go, nothing is off the table.”
The station is still in the early stages but the group are actively looking for people to get involved, and are eager for people to contact them to express their interest and share their ideas about what the station could do for the local community.
“Our main aim just now is to get the project known and out there. We already have content and the means to have it online. We are continually updating our website as we get new content,” said Nicola. “This is a station for the community and we want their input at every turn. I’m excited about this project and I know we can build this together.”
Click here for Bute TV on Facebook
Tags: Angela Haggerty, Argyll & Bute, Artist, Ayr, Bute, Bute Community Council, Bute TV, Glasgow, Greenock, Inverclyde TV, Jeremy Hunt, Journalist, Livestream, Local TV, Nicola Jones, Peter Wallace, Tutor
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