It emerged this week that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport will appoint an independent selection panel later this month, which will oversee the tender process for a pilot in Scotland, Wales and one English region.
A spokesman from the North East consortium said it would bring together Press Association's expertise in covering and commissioning content, Trinity Mirror's on-the-ground news-gathering strength and Ten Alps' award-winning programme-making skills.
Sly Bailey, chief executive of Trinity Mirror, said the North East is highly representative of Britain with its mix of urban centres and rural communities, and the consortium's plans will offer crucial learning experiences to the industry ahead of the full national rollout.
The consortium is in discussion with a number of organisations within the North East and will announce additional partners soon.
Tony Watson, managing director of the Press Association, said the North's advantage is that it is the "right size to allow for swift development of the multi-layered service the DCMS is seeking".
Guardian Media Group, publisher of the Manchester Evening News and operator of local TV channel Channel M, has previously lobbied for the North West to be chosen as the English region.
Later this month, a pre-qualification questionnaire will invite bids from Scotland and Wales and a decision on the English region will be made by Christmas.
The independent selection panel will choose bidders to go forward to the second stage after Christmas and then the submission of final tenders will be made by the end of February and decision will be made in March.
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