Kent\u2019s local TV station, KMTV, has had its licence renewed for another nine years, allowing it to continue to champion hyperlocal stories which matter.<\/p>\n
Channel director Andy Richards explained the way the broadcaster is structured and financed allows staff to cover issues that other larger corporations might not.<\/p>\n
The KMTV team, when it launched in 2017<\/p>\n
He told KentOnline: \u201cPeople think it is about getting the best clickbait, but certainly for KMTV, it is not. It is about getting out and telling a great story.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe high-profile stories are all really important, but it is these hyperlocal stories we are really proud of.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can do something that would not get big numbers online, but is important to the communities we serve, like going to a village fete.<\/p>\n
\u201cLarger broadcasters might not have the resources to cover these types of stories, but we can bring them to people\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to champion those types of stories, and that is an important part of what we do. We can fill that gap that might not be picked up by others.\u201d<\/p>\n
KMTV\u2019s Andy Richards, Louisa Britton and Josie Hannet are pictured when the station launched<\/p>\n
KMTV is jointly owned by the University of Kent and the KM Group, part of Iliffe Media, and is one of 34 local TV stations across the country.<\/p>\n
It holds a Local TV Licence, meaning it is required to air a certain number of hours of local programming daily and produce shows relevant to its area.<\/p>\n
It was first awarded the licence by broadcast regulator Ofcom in 2014, with the hopes of being up and running the following year.<\/p>\n
The station, which is based in a purpose-built studio in the university\u2019s Medway campus, finally launched in July 2017<\/a> at 5.30pm with its first news round-up, Kent Tonight<\/a>.<\/p>\n It has been broadcasting across parts of Kent ever since, but is hoping to expand its reach to the entire county within the next year by using new technology.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The licence was due to expire this year, but following the government\u2019s decision to extend the local TV licences, it has been renewed by Ofcom until 2034.<\/p>\n Speaking last year, then media minister Julia Lopez said that despite changing technology and shifting viewing habits, people were still tuning into their local TV providers for their news.<\/p>\n The government\u2019s renewal also looked to ensure that access to the local stations remained free.<\/p>\n Andy explained that KMTV\u2019s figures show that most of their viewers (28%) are in the lowest socioeconomic tier, and said in many cases, they likely can only afford a TV licence.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cThey are turning to TV for their news, so it needs to be free and available for them in some way. They need a trusted place to get their content.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are some really deprived communities, which is why it is really important that there is local media like ourselves to go and speak to them and hear from them.<\/p>\n \u201cKent really is in the heart of so much, whether it is politics, Lower Thames Crossing, or Dover, but because we are in the south east, we sometimes get forgotten.<\/p>\n \u201cThe eight years we have been operating have been unprecedented. It has been fascinating, with the likes of Brexit, Covid, and Trump, and we have had some huge highlights.\u201d<\/p>\n Many of the local TV services also support journalism through training programmes provided in production, news reporting and technical roles, which is something KMTV is proud to champion.<\/p>\n With its relationship with the University of Kent and its prestigious Centre for Journalism (CfJ), the station trains BBC apprentices, takes on work experience students, and offers a year in television placement.<\/p>\n Andy said: \u201cWe feel like it is an important thing for us to do. It is important that there is an opportunity to train people in the community.<\/p>\n \u201cWe provide training in a professional environment with opportunities for students, while being a trusted source of information.\u201d<\/p>\n Last year, the University of Kent revealed it would be slashing several courses, including journalism<\/a>, due to financial challenges.<\/p>\n Andy explained that when the CfJ shuts, Kent will be without any journalism training programme, but the news also left KMTV in limbo over its future.<\/p>\nThe station also offers training opportunities for new journalists<\/p>\n