Ofcom's Statement on Restricted television service licences (RTSLs)

List of licence holders and Ofcom's statement on existing restricted service licences

Restricted Television Service Licences (RTSLs) authorise licence holders to broadcast terrestrial television to a specific location using interleaved spectrum (frequencies which are unused by existing regional and national TV networks). The licences were originally awarded for a four year term under the Broadcasting Act 1996, but have since been extended up to the relevant date of Digital Switchover (DSO) in each region. While RTSLs were originally licensed to be broadcast in analogue form, Ofcom has offered existing Licensees the possibility, subject to technical feasibility, to migrate to digital (DVB-T) transmission in advance of DSO. Subject to technical feasibility, Ofcom may also offer RTSLs which are licensed to transmit digitally a final licence term extension permitting their continued operation until the end of 2013.

The Government has developed a new policy framework for local TV services in the UK, and more details are available at http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/broadcasting/7235.aspx

Ofcom is now consulting on how it plans to exercise its duties and powers in relation to local television, subject to the Governments Orders being passed by Parliament. More information is available at http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/local-tv/

Details of current RTSL licensees are available here.

Dated, 23 February 2012