Red TV to relocate after clash with council

Red TV a national television station based near the Aston Expressway in Birmingham is set to relocate to London after disputes with Birmingham City Council.

Red TV�۪s director Davy Bal claims that agreements to film shows based on the animal welfare and environmental warden teams were overturned by chief executive Stephen Hughes and Debra Davies, director of public affairs and communications.

Mr Bal has said that the failure of the council to complete the TV series has incurred thousands of pounds in production costs for Red TV and also “endured gross incompetence and intransigence at the hands of the chief executive, Stephen Hughes.”

He also commented on the council�۪s press office in dealing with the dispute, “They were very slow which made them difficult to deal with and they didn�۪t maintain their interest in the media and with the TV station.”

However, Deborah Harries head of news for the council said, “Red TV failed to provide the council’s legal team with copies of the programmes they had filmed, despite an agreement in place for them to do so.” Mr. Bal has said they have sent copies to the council, “we have sent letters, emails and had lots of correspondence.”

Deborah Harries continued ���Red TV became increasingly aggressive and unreasonable.�۝ This has resulted in communications between Mr. Bal becoming increasingly erratic and torturous, therefore Birmingham City Council have ended their discussions with Red TV. Mr. Bal wants to make it clear that Red TV�۪s particular dealings with Stephen Hughes and Debra Davies have caused the frustrations, “I must make it clear that 95 per cent of people we have dealt with at the council have been perfectly lovely and reasonable people.”

Red TV is aired on Sky Channel 186 claims to receive 500,000 to 750,000 viewers a week which broadcasts low-budget fly-on-the-wall reality shows and talent programmes. It is currently in talks surrounding their relocation to London, “we have three possible locations, one of them being Pinewood Studios” said Mr. Bal.