Oxfordshire's own TV channel could be up and running again in the early part of 2012 – if the boss of SIX TV, which still holds a licence to broadcast here, has his way.

Daniel Cass, pictured, who ran SIX TV from studios in a former Oxford City Council nuclear shelter in Woodstock Road until 2009, told the Oxford Mail: “We are still hoping to launch a trial of local TV on Freeview in 2012 but have been obstructed so far by the actions of rival channel providers seeking to put us in a non-viable location on the programme listings.”

The regulator Digital Multiplex Operators (DMOL) offered SIX TV channel 200, way behind many adult channels on Freeview – a slot that Mr Cass said was unacceptable, as he felt few people would find it there.

He said: “If we are not offered a more sensible slot, I shall send a still picture from every sex channel ahead of us to every MP in order to draw their attention to our situation.”

DMOL chairman Alix Pryde said a consultation process was ongoing, the result of which which was due to be published in mid-2012, but after Mr Cass’s concerns a review was now being carried out.

In a letter to Mr Cass, Mr Pryde said: “We are actively engaged in this review and will be able to return to you before the end of the year.”

SIX TV provided a local TV service on analogue television, designed to reach 330,000 viewers and 129,000 homes between 1999-2009, at a time when there were only five national TV services available.

It went off the air when most viewers switched to digital.

SIX TV was granted a licence by the now disbanded Independent Television Commission in 1999. This licence was confirmed by Ofcom as valid until the end of 2013.

Mr Cass said: “We will continue to do everything we can to get back on air as soon as possible to deliver a high-quality service to Oxfordshire and support the roll-out of local TV, which the Government is encouraging.”

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt earlier this month confirmed that Oxford was one of 20 “pioneer areas” earmarked for new local TV stations, and Mr Cass said SIX TV would apply to take up the new licence.

The station could go live on Channel six or eight on Freeview by 2014.

Capital funding of £25m for the stations, and a further £5m a year for the first three years, will come from the BBC licence fee. Advertising would supply revenue to fund running costs. Mr Cass reckons SIX TV will be in a strong position to win the new licence.

Mr Cass originally ran SIX TV for its owner, the Milestone Group, but it is now an independent company after a management buy-out in 2009. It is funded by local investors.

The group also owns licences to broadcast in Southampton, Reading, and Portsmouth, although is not currently on air in any of those locations.