BBC scraps local TV channel plans

The BBC is to scrap plans to offer 60 local TV channels on satellite.

Citing the need to make efficiency savings as part of the wide-ranging "Delivering Creative Future" plan outlined today by director-general Mark Thompson, the BBC said that resources have been shifted from launching the channels to producing "high-quality content for the rapidly increasing number of broadband users" to be delivered on a new MyLocalNow website offering.

A pilot local TV service was launched for the West Midlands in December 2005.