Local radio stations

[gswindale]

Not a hope of that happening. Any government would find themselves in court if they tried that.

Why?

It was ofcom that changed the rules to allow this ridiculous situation whereby the "local" radio frequencies don't have to broadcast any local output.

Presumably this was at the behest of one of the owning groups pointing out they could improve profits if they only had the same 2 presenters on the breakfast show in Lincoln, Exeter and Dundee.

Are the licences to broadcast still for fixed periods of time? Then if so, there is absolutely no reason why, in future, there can be increased levels of local output specified.

 

[adc82140]

The licences now roll over automatically if a broadcaster has a qualifying DAB service. Changing the terms of an existing licence to make a business unviable (which it would be if it was forced to be local) would likely end up in court.

It's all academic though, there are now countless small scale DAB multiplexes on air, with more to come, so if any company or organisation wants to start a local radio service, they are free to do so. There is stacks of broadcast capacity, without any financially onerous conditions that come attached to FM licences. Some indeed have, for example V2 Radio in Sussex, and ThisIsTheCoast in Yorkshire.

 

[Richardr]

I'm Hopeful that in another couple of Years, This Stupid rule is reversered.

It works okay for National Stations that were created as such, and then want to add on an additonal Local Program, But the way that Bauer has carried it out has killed off so many Local Stations (Radio Aire, Radio City, Pulse, Radio Wave, Rock Fm, Viking FM & Pirate FM. To name a Few)

I'm hopeful that the rules and regulations do eventually change, forcing Bauer tor reinstate those Radio Stations that have been lost at the expense of creating National Brands such as Hits and Greatest Hits

In what way are you hopeful? The Media Bill has passed its way through the House of Commons, and is half way through the House of Lords.

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3505

It includes [per the explanatory notes]:

1. OFCOM will no longer be required to secure that stations provide non-news local material
2. OFCOM will also no longer be required to impose requirements to
   secure that stations provide a certain amount of programming from a studio within their
   coverage area.
   

Outside of local news, the idea is to remove other obligations. Ofcom have said they will follow this once the Bill is passed, and remove existing obligations from commercial radio [community radio is different] where they can.