Med1a is launching 'View TV Local', a platform of IPTV channels which enables content owners, marketers and publishers to provide TV on the Internet to local towns and communities. Some of the first channels to launch using the 'View TV Local' platform include Chester TV, Tamworth TV and Redditch TV.

Med1a's 'View TV Local' portal consists of web site technology, video footage and User Generated Content (UGC) that can be used to communicate news and information, business events, weather reports and tourist information to local towns and communities almost instantly. All channels are received via broadband and are available via a PC using a standard web browser pointed at www.viewtvlocal.com or a dedicated web address.

With a decline in local newspaper circulation, 'View TV Local' provides news at a speed much faster than printed media and offers a huge viewing capacity with each channel being scaleable up to 250,000 concurrent viewers. With a lower cost per viewer compared with Digital and Cable broadcasting, dedicated niche channels and no technical operating instructions, 'View TV Local' also provides a strong business case for local content providers.

The 'View Local TV' channels offer the perfect set up for people in the community to be trained to produce and manage the User Generated Content, and there is also the capability to stream content from tourist information centre web sites and other local amenities sites.

Jamie Branson, Director of Med1a, comments, "Local TV is a strong addition to View TV's stable of channels adding even more diversity to an already varied line up - now as well as being able to watch a variety of streaming news, music and entertainment, View TV can offer its audience local content, broadening the appeal of the platform to even more special interest groups."

Branson concludes, "Now that View TV is available via the web browser, set top boxes and even 3G mobile we expect many more cities and towns to place themselves at the forefront of the IPTV revolution."