West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin today reacted to news that Malvern TV has not made the first 20 local TV pilot projects announced by the Department for Culture Media and Sport today. The MP was speaking after Malvern TV’s bid was placed on a potential second tranche of applicants to run a local TV station. Major towns and cities have been shortlisted for the 20 pilot areas to run local digital TV stations. Harriett helped co-ordinate a meeting of local companies interested in bidding for a franchise and supported local efforts to pitch for one of the slots. She commented: “I am pleased that Malvern TV is still in the running and I can see that the initial top 20 list focuses on larger centres of population. “Areas like Malvern have a strong ‘Big Society’ network and a very popular local paper so I feel they would have a lot of content for a local TV station. “However, it is clear that these stations need to have a sustainable business model and I think that is why there has been a focus on urban areas first which may be able to attract more advertising to their plans.” “I hope that as these businesses develop, towns like Malvern will be able to benefit from ultra-local TV.”