NVTV, also known as Northern Visions Television, is a local public service community television station based in the city of Belfast.
History
NVTV was originally launched on analogue at 5:00pm on Monday 9 February 2004, with the first programme aired being a film called The School Trip, which was made by students at the Fleming Fulton School in the city.
NVTV’s analogue transmissions ceased in October 2012 during the digital switchover, however it continued to stream its programming online. On 10 October 2012, the channel was granted a 12-year local TV licence to broadcast on digital terrestrial television by Ofcom. The channel was relaunched on 29 September 2014 through the Freeview and Virgin Media platforms. It is currently licensed to transmit on UHF Channel 30 (Freeview LCN 7).
Programming
Currently, NVTV broadcasts from 6pm – 11pm, 7 days per week. Local news at 7pm and 10.30pm in a half hour programme, Focal Point, Monday – Friday, with a Focal Point Round Up at the weekends. Saturday 6pm and 10pm and Sunday 6pm. There are several regular shows, including Kick Out the Jams (music show), SERC MAPA (music show from Bangor College), Alan in Belfast (chat show), Collapse the Box (arts programming) and Discover the Archives (heritage and history shows). Scottish Moments profiles programming from Edinburgh made by the Institute for Local TV in association with Summerhall arts venue. NVTV also shares content with Latest TV in Brighton and shows from Brighton and Hove have been featured on NVTV also.
NVTV programming is broadcast weekly across America via MHz Networks on Today’s Ireland to over 40 million households. Today’s Ireland (TI) connects American viewers with contemporary Ireland, blending news, business reports, cultural programmes and entertainment from Irish broadcasters, including RTE, TG4 and NVTV, as the first all-island channel.
