Local TV channel relaunched
THE troubled local TV station created to broadcast community programmes to the West Midlands has been relaunched under the ‘Made in’ brand.
Big Centre TV stop broadcasting last week after 18 months on air following its merger with Made Television in October.
The ‘Made in Birmingham’ channel launches a new chapter in the life of the troubled local TV project.
In 2012, City TV pipped Made Television and others to win the licence to broadcast across the region and was due to launch in November 2014 under ‘City 8’ brand.
But in August 2014, the company fell into administration with debts of more than £170,000 and was eventually taken over by a new team at Kaleidoscope TV, led by former ATV presenter Mike Prince.
Big Centre TV eventually airwaves in February 2015 difficult gestation.
Mr Prince is staying on in the new set-up and will present the first show to be aired on Made in Birmingham, a news programme called #BirminghamNews.
This will be followed by nightly magazine show The Lowdown Birmingham, led by local residents hit the after a George Hancorn, Taffy Mushipe and Richard Gullick.
Other shows will be shared from across the ‘Made in’ network.
Made Television is already broadcasting TV channels in Bristol, Tyne and Wear, Cardiff and Leeds and says it will air more than 40 hours of original local programming each week, including 23 hours in peak time.
Made chief executive Jamie Conway said: “The West Midlands is a vibrant and exciting region and a great platform for creating programming that will inspire and engage our viewers.
“We’re looking forward to unveiling some of our new shows.”