A NEW Internet TV service to be launched by Kent County Council is to be operated by a company run by Sir Bob Geldof.

The county council announced on Wednesday that Ten Alps, which already runs a number of specialist digital and website services, has been awarded a two-year contract to operate "Kent TV".

Sir Bob, who has had a home in Faversham for more than 20 years, helped found Ten Alps in 1999 and remains a non-executive director.

Sir Bob said: "I think it [Kent TV] is very logical and it really is inevitable. Kent County Council just happens to be the first to be doing it. It will happen everywhere and it will become a commonly accepted medium of communication."

Nigel Dacre, managing director of Ten Alps, said the company was delighted to have won the contract.

KCC estimates the costs of running Kent TV, due to get underway in September, will be about £1.4million over two years but believes a significant amount will be recouped through advertising and promotion.

Kent TV, which will be run from Maidstone’s County Hall headquarters, will broadcast a range of programmes which will be available to broadband subscribers. It has faced some criticsm from opposition councillors, who say money would be better spent elsewhere.

Mr Dacre said KCC deserved to be credited with taking the initiative in launching a service he predicted would be adapted by many other local authorities.

He also stressed that Kent TV would not be competing with other media organisations when it came to providing news. That pledge came after council leaders sought to publicly reassure those who have expressed concerned that the service could be used for party political purposes.

KCC chief executive Peter Gilroy told a meeting of county councillors shortly before the public announcement that Kent TV would comply with Ofcom regulations governing issues such as bias and partiality.

Mr Dacre said: "We believe very strongly that this is a good idea and it is the right time for a broadband service like this. KCC is leading the way and in a few years time, councils and other public sector organisations will be doing similar things."

More and more people were opting to access information via video and websites, he said.

Asked if he was confident that enough income would be generated to avoid costs falling on the council taxpayer, he said: "This is a really cost-effective way of communicating with residents. The £600,000 per year compared with all the other money that is being spent is relatively small."

Although Sir Bob will not be directly involved in Kent TV, he has taken a close interest in the contract process and was said to be delighted that Ten Alps had won.

"Bob has had a home in Faversham for 23 years and in that time has been involved in many local issues. He is a great supporter of this. He likes Kent and regards himself as a Kent resident," added Mr Dacre.