JUST one applicant has applied to run a TV station for Basingstoke.

Ofcom has revealed the companies pitching for the licences in various UK cities and towns after inviting applications last September, in the second phase of television licensing.

The Government approved legislation to enable the independent regulator to issue local licences – but just one application has been made to run a channel in Basingstoke.

That’s Media, which is supported by funds from the BBC, has applied for the licence and would call the channel That’s Basingstoke. It would be on the Freeview platform.

Licensees may wish to distribute the service on satellite, cable and online.

The company has also applied for the licences in Guildford, Reading and Salisbury.

The local television channels will be required to broadcast a mixture of local news and current affairs, and be based within the licensed area.

That’s Media has already secured a licence to run local television channels in Southampton and Oxford through phase one of the rollout.