Radio broadcast update - January 2024

Addition of Fun Kids Soundtracks

North East Wales & West Cheshire

Removal of UWS Radio

Ayr

Removal of Tomorrowland One World Radio

North East Wales & West Cheshire

Addition of Original 106 GOLD

Aberdeen

Aberdeen

Station House Media Unit

Aberdeen (Stewart Park Court)

15 January 2024

Belfast and Lisburn

Lagan SSDAB Limited

Belfast (Grand Central); Lisburn (Mullaghglass Road)

23 January 2024

Nottingham

Nottingham DAB Limited

Nottingham (Mapperley)

26 January 2024

Moorlands Radio CIC

Moorlands Radio

Like Radio, POP DAB, Like Country

Like Broadcasting North Limited

Broadcast 1 Limited

Anglian Radio Limited

Radio Norwich 99.9/Town 102

East Coast Radio (The Beach) Limited

The Beach (Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft)

Great British Radio Ltd

Great British Radio

Community Radio Swindon Limited

Swindon 105.5

Swindon

Legacy901 CIC

Legacy 90.1FM

Manchester

West Hull Community Radio Limited

Humber Wave Radio

Hull

Gaydio Community Interest Company

Gaydio

Stockport

In2beats

In2beats

Bedford

Belfast FM Limited

Belfast 89

Belfast & Lisburn

Cardiff/Newport

Capital

Cardiff Broadcasting Company Limited

Greater London

Panjab Radio

Panjab Radio Limited

Increase in licensed area:

An extension via a relay at Crieff to serve Strathearn AND Strathallan was AGREED.

The increase in the size of the adult population served was not deemed to be significant.

Exceptional circumstances

The increase in both the coverage area and the size of the adult population served was not deemed to be significant.

Other considerations

• The applicant highlighted that although the overall footprint of the proposed extension would be large, this is offset by rural nature of the areas of additional coverage which also feature very complex and rough terrain of large hills and valleys. In addition to this, the original licensed area of the service was particularly small. Ofcom considered that while the extension will result in the potential for four times as many listeners to access the service, it would not be considered as a significant extension because the number of potential listeners would still be particularly small following the extension.
• The applicant explained that it is finding it increasingly difficult to sustain the service financially. The size of the towns, and the extremely limited TSA and number of small local businesses means that advertising and sponsorship opportunities are scarce. As a consequence, the revenue generated is insufficient to sustain a full-time radio service to the standard required to properly serve its target community. The coverage extension will therefore enable the Licensee to pool resources with a charity based in Crieff to produce more locally relevant content within its extended licensed area and in turn, secure the future sustainability of the service.
• The applicant set out that the proposed extended areas are completely underserved by any other local commercial radio, have no indoor DAB coverage and suffers from patchy BBC reception in some areas due to the nature of the topography. This means that the only media vehicle available to let people know what is going on in other towns and villages is the weekly newspaper.
• This extension will therefore provide much needed local news and information to many households in the proposed extended areas for the first time on the analogue platform, and provide a much-needed “bridge” across the hills uniting these small communities.
• The applicant demonstrated the affinities between Pitlochry & Aberfeldy and Strathearn & Strathallan. Although the proposed extended areas are separated by hills and uninhabitable land, they are within the same council area set in the Perthshire countryside. Further, residents in both areas also share a similar rural lifestyle and standard of living. Farming, hospitality and tourism are also the main sources of employment in the existing and proposed extended areas.
• The applicant demonstrated demand and support from the community in the proposed extended area. This includedpledges of support from 30 local organisations who currently collaborate with the online service in Crieff; leader of the Development Trust; local councillor; and the area’s elected representative in the Scottish Parliament.
• Although the surrounding terrain is such that coverage between the two transmitters will not be completely contiguous, and implementation of a RBL (re broadcast link which is typically used when there is no direct signal path from the transmitter to the studio), is not possible in this case, it was considered to be the best technical solution given the challenging topography in the local area.
• Ofcom published this application for a period of one month, which provides anyone with an opportunity to comment on the application. Ofcom received three responses from individuals/groups, all of whom suggested that the proposed extension should not be approved. Two of the responses incorrectly labelled Heartland FM as a community radio station, instead of a commercial station. In summary, the representations presented to Ofcom arguing that it should not approve this proposal were focused on the following themes:
  • A preference for a local station to remain rooted in its primary location, suggesting that there are better alternatives to extend the coverage than the one being proposed.
  • Complaints that the service is not currently meeting the requirements of its Format.
  • Concerns that the proposal would result in a potential change in the character of service of the existing service, lessening the locally-relevant content available and relax the editorial control of the service when covering a larger area.
  • The relevance of the letters of support provided alongside their application and the perceived lack of support from the proposed extended area.
  • The impact the change would have on the social and charitable objectives of the licence-holding company.
  • The current financial position of the licence-holding company, suggesting that Ofcom should allow a different charitable group to operate the licence.
• Ofcom has had regard to these representations and has responded to each individual/group explaining why it has taken the decision to approve this proposal. When considering applications from analogue radio services to extend their coverage, there are specific policy criteria that we must have regard to. We consider that the Licensee has met these criteria.
• The Licensee has demonstrated that the extension would cater for the proposed extended community through the merger with the current online radio station in the extended area. Further, Ofcom cannot force a Licensee to extend coverage in a different direction, as asserted by some of the representations we have received. Instead, we must review the specific arguments made in the application and determine whether or not the policy criteria for such an extension has been met.
• If listeners consider that a service is not currently meeting its Format, they should log this as a complaint via the Ofcom website. Ofcom cannot consider regulatory compliance as a means to reject an extension application as they are two very different processes.
• After receiving comments from the Licensee on the matter of its Format, Ofcom was satisfied that the proposed extension would not affect the station’s Format and would instead secure the longer-term future of this analogue commercial station while increasing the amount of locally-relevant information it provides to its target audience. In any case, should the Licensee apply to amend its Format in the future, there is a statutory process that Ofcom would need to complete to ensure any changes would meet the legislative requirements.
• The evidence provided by the Licensee did demonstrate general support of this move as set out above, while we are mindful that as Ofcom is not currently advertising analogue licences. The extension will therefore allow the content currently being broadcast online only to reach a potentially larger audience through an analogue platform.
• The charitable and social objectives for the licence-holding company is not a matter for Ofcom and is instead a matter for the Charity Commission.

Ofcom does not have the authority to demand that another corporate entity/charity is provided with an opportunity to operate a licence once that licence has been awarded. It is for the existing Licensee to consider whether its composition is best placed to deliver its objectives and apply to Ofcom to transfer the licence if it believes a change is necessary. Ofcom can only engage on this matter if the Licensee does not meet with the legislative requirements to hold a licence. Heartland FM meets the legislative requirement.

Bro Radio

Vale of Glamorgan Broadcasting CIC

Barry

30 March 2029

Maritime Radio

Greenwich Media C.I.C.

Greenwich

31 March 2029

Mearns FM

Mearns Community Radio Limited

Aberdeen

5 June 2029