Ofcom awards Maidstone local TV licence

A licence to run a local television station serving Maidstone and Tonbridge in Kent has been awarded by Ofcom.

KMTV will operate on digital terrestrial television and be run by a partnership between the University of Kent and multi-media firm the KM Group.

A spokesman for the partnership said it was hoped the new channel would be up and running in 2015.

Ofcom said it estimated the service could reach about 175,000 homes in the Maidstone area.

The partnership spokesman said KMTV would provide dedicated local news and entertainment, using the KM Group's multimedia broadcasting experience and the university's facilities and expertise.