A CONTROVERSIAL television service paid for by taxpayers will be no "Kent Pravda", a boss has claimed.

Kent County Council's decision to spend more than a million pounds on KentTV for broadband transmission has sparked widespread concern that it will be a propaganda mouthpiece.

But Simon Gallimore, resources editor at Ten Alps, Sir Bob Geldof's production company hired to set up the service, told business leaders that the new service - launching on September 21 - will be governed by the guidelines of Ofcom, the broadcasting watchdog.

"It will operate under Ofcom's guidelines in terms of editorial impartiality and neutrality," he said. "If it's Kent Pravda, people are not going to watch it."

Speaking to an audience at the offices of Business Link Kent, Kings Hill, Mr Gallimore added: "I come from a news and current affairs background in the BBC and ITN over 20 years and I hold to those traditions of editorial independence. It makes good sense."

KCC is stumping up £1.4 million for the service over two years. It will be based at offices in Oakwood House, Maidstone.

Other media businesses are concerned that the new publicly funded service, which is seeking advertising and sponsorship deals, will have an impact on revenue.

But there appeared to be confusion over who keeps the money, with Ten Alps saying it would share the revenue with KCC while KCC insists that all income will go to the council.

Ten Alps, a fast-growing media business that earned £69 million last year, already produces Teachers TV - a satellite channel - and is believed to be close to securing deals for Vets TV and a Peace Channel focusing on winners of the Nobel Prize.

It will produce 90 minutes of Kent footage a week that will build up into an archive that can be accessed by viewers.

The company said it was interested in working with existing Kent-based broadcasters and news organisations. It is also inviting businesses to submit corporate videos for possible transmission.

Meanwhile, there is doubt as to whether Kent TV will cover Medway. Medway council has declined to contribute to the service, saying it has no budget. It recently ran its own web-based TV project for a six-month pilot.

KCC spokesman Gerry Moore said Ten Alps was under no instruction to "avoid Medway" and cross-boundary issues, such as those involving the police, would be covered. But priority would be given to issues affecting KCC residents.

He said: "If there was a massive event which Kent people would be interested in, we'd obviously say to Medway, would you mind if we go in?"

A Medway council spokeswoman said: "We are talking to Ten Alps about whether there is going to be any opportunity to have Medway content but we certainly don't have any budget and we're not intending to fund anything on there."

She added: "Our television pilot has come to an end and we're evalutating it at the moment to decide whether to continue with it."