Mustard has been broadcasting online since January on www.mustardtv.co.uk and in that time has attracted over 500,000 views of the videos published online every week, says Archant.
The Archant company is part of the first phase of the local TV network project which will see up to 40 new local TV stations launching in the next two years throughout the UK.
Mustard will broadcast a blend of local news, current affairs and entertainment to nearly 250,000 people in the greater Norwich area, reaching homes from Cromer to Loddon, Dereham to Acle.
Due to start broadcasting next spring, TV studios are now under construction in Archant’s Prospect House headquarters in Norwich city centre, where a schedule of nightly news and magazine programmes will be produced. Remote control cameras and a start-of-the-art Tricaster 8000 vision mixer and green screen system will soon be installed.
Mustard has just recruited Mel Wilcockson as Head of Commercial for the station who joins from Kiss FM and more new staff will join the current team over the next few months. The team will be around 15 strong once broadcasting starts.
Fiona Ryder, Mustard MD, said: “Our vision is for Mustard to be seen as a community asset: a local broadcast service that reflects life and champions community concerns and gives viewers a new voice.
“As part of Archant, one of the UK’s largest independently owned regional media groups, Mustard is uniquely positioned to sustain a local commercial television service for the city and the surrounding area.
“It will draw on its long-established media resources, especially in the delivery of high-quality journalism across a range of media channels, commercial sales, sponsorship and back office support.”
Mustard TV will broadcast on Freeview Channel 8, which can be found on the TV channel guide between BBC3 and BBC4.
