Ofcom has received two requests from GMG Radio to change the Format of Real Radio (South Wales) and Real Radio (North and mid Wales).
One station is currently targeting a South Wales audience aged between 25-54. It is currently required to broadcast Adult Contemporary music treating speech, regional information and listener interactivity as important ingredients and running 24-hour news. The target demographic would remain the same, as too the listener interactivity. The amount of news provision would remain unchanged.
This request comes as part of an additional request, to merge the programming with GMG's Real Radio North and mid Wales regional station, not yet on air. The proposal is to provide a single pan-Wales radio service.
As shown below, the Character of Service for each radio station requests a change from a provision of 'regional information' to a provision of 'information about Wales'. As a result we are treating this as a single consultation exercise.
Current Character of Service of Real Radio South Wales
A FULL SERVICE ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC STATION FOR SOUTH WALES, TARGETING PRIMARILY 25-54 YEAR-OLDS, TREATING SPEECH, REGIONAL INFORMATION AND LISTENER INTERACTIVITY AS IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS, AND RUNNING 24-HOUR NEWS.
Proposed Character of Service of Real Radio North and mid Wales Region
A FULL SERVICE ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC STATION FOR NORTH AND MID WALES, TARGETING PRIMARILY 25-54 YEAR-OLDS, TREATING SPEECH, REGIONAL INFORMATION AND LISTENER INTERACTIVITY AS IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS, AND RUNNING 24-HOUR NEWS
Proposed Character of Service Real Radio South Wales
A FULL SERVICE ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC STATION FOR SOUTH WALES, TARGETING PRIMARILY 25-54 YEAR-OLDS, TREATING SPEECH, INFORMATION ABOUT WALES AND LISTENER INTERACTIVITY AS IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS, AND RUNNING 24-HOUR NEWS.
Proposed Revised Character of Service of Real Radio North and mid Wales Region
A FULL SERVICE ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC STATION FOR NORTH AND MID WALES, TARGETING PRIMARILY 25-54 YEAR-OLDS, TREATING SPEECH, INFORMATION ABOUT WALES AND LISTENER INTERACTIVITY AS IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS, AND RUNNING 24-HOUR NEWS
Ofcom has published guidelines with regard to criteria that will be considered when stations request a change of Format.
Ofcom must consider the requests by Real Radio (Wales) and Real Radio (North and mid Wales) to change its Format against the statutory criteria set out in the legislation below, and the consultation question, at Annex 4, reflects that.
Ofcom has the ability to consent to such changes under conditions included in the (n) licence, in accordance with Sections 106 (1A) of the Broadcasting Act 1990 if it is satisfied that at least one of the following criteria is satisfied:
- The departure would not substantially alter the character of the service
- The change would not narrow the range of programmes available in the area by way of relevant independent radio services
- The change would be conducive to the maintenance or promotion of fair and effective competition or
- There is evidence that, amongst persons living in the affected areas, there is a significant demand for, or significant support for, the change.
If a station wants to make changes that will substantially alter the character of its service, Ofcom consults publicly before coming to a decision. In this case the request could, if granted, substantially alter the character of the station's service.
In this case, as the wording of the Character of Service would change, in line with previous Format changes Ofcom regards the change as substantial and so is consulting on the requested change.
Also in this case the issue centres on the requested change to provide regional information and replace it with information about Wales. GMG are also requesting to provide local news bulletins at least hourly during weekday daytimes and peak time at weekends in return for at least 7 hours a day locally made programmes and at least 4 hours daytime at weekends.
As Ofcom believes that criterion (a) above is not satisfied, the changes can only be approved if one of criteria (b) to (d) is satisfied. In these circumstances Ofcom is required to carry out a public consultation.
In particular, when considering whether criterion (b) is satisfied (the change would not narrow the range of programmes available in the area by way of relevant independent radio services), neither local DAB services nor BBC services 'count' as relevant independent radio services. The relevant independent radio services are those local analogue commercial and community stations which operate in the region, which are listed in Annex 7.
Ofcom, therefore, seeks views on the requests, having particular regard to the Broadcasting Act 1990 Section 106 (1A) (b) (c) and/or (d), as set out above.
Annex 5 contains the two Format change requests, in which an argument is made that the output would still be broadly similar and so the criteria (b) is satisfied.