BSkyB planned local television network as Jeremy Hunt decided on News Corp bid The proposals were widely derided by the media industry, with many companies claiming that the finances didn't stack up, but Mr Hunt made it his personal mission to pursue the project. He hoped to emulate the media landscape of America, where even mid-sized cities have their own television news services, which, among other things, offer a useful platform for politicians. Helen Goodman, the shadow culture secretary, said it smacked of the Culture Secretary and Rupert Murdoch "doing a deal behind the bike sheds." The accusation is likely to put further pressure on Mr Hunt, who is already facing calls to resign over his dealings with News Corp last summer, when it was trying to buy the 61pc of BSkyB it did not already own. Mr Hunt's office kept in close contact with News Corp throughout the bid period, giving it information in advance on its progress. Mr Cameron this week ruled out an inquiry into whether Mr Hunt broke ministerial rules in his dealings. But the disclosures about BSkyB's local television plans are expected to prompt fresh calls for his resignation. The Conservative Party has already admitted that Mr Hunt discussed local television with News Corp executives in New York in 2009, as the company was weighing up whether to bid for BSkyB. Documents obtained by the Telegraph show that BSkyB's plans were being spearheaded last April by Jeremy Darroch, the chief executive, and dubbed Gregg's after the family bakery chain that was founded in Tyneside in the 1930s. Customers would have linked to an online North Eastern local television service from their set-top box and watch it as an ordinary programme. It was lined up for launch last November, but both the broadcaster and Mr Hunt watered down their local television plans after News Corp pulled its bid for BSkyB in light of mounting political pressure over the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. News Corp withdrew its offer on July 13. Just five days later, Mr Hunt abandoned his hope of a centralised national network of local television services. A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said Mr Hunt had been weighing up News Corp's bid on the basis of media plurality and that no other factors were considered. BSkyB said: "Sky Tyne and Wear was a pilot for a web and mobile-based service. We never had any plans to launch local TV stations.