When we interviewed filmmaker Mike Whiddon last week, he revealed he was all set to make a six-part series for One Plymouth TV, a new television channel launching later this year. Hold on a second. A new TV channel? For Plymouth?! D+CFilm was intrigued enough to find out more.

Apparently, One Plymouth TV will be aired on Sky across the UK in September, screening a buncha shows about local news, sports, lifestyle and business. Working closely with Sony HDTV, the channel will be the first in the country to run completely on next-gen broadcasting equipment.

Thirty-nine people are to be employed at the studios at Plymouth’s Tamar Science Park, but bosses also plan to co-operate with city education centres to create programmes.

Staff will work with students at Plymouth College of Art and Design, the University of Plymouth and City College Plymouth, as well as pupils at local schools.

Programmes will be aired from 5.30pm to 11.30pm daily, and bosses have plans to make the channel’s shows available online. Viewers will be able to watch sports shows on Mondays and Fridays, arts and culture items on Tuesdays, business programmes on Wednesdays and lifestyle productions on Thursdays. There’ll also be a ‘what’s on’-style programme on Fridays.

Yes, it’s all very exciting, but there’s a reason why the ‘mainstream’ channels have cut back on their regional programming - it’s cos no-one watches it. However, a fresher approach could reap dividends. We shall see.

Stay tuned to D+CFilm for more news about One Plymouth TV.

Posted by Thin White Duke

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 27th, 2007 at 10:08 am and is filed under Local, News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.