1.1 In 2004, Ofcom issued digital replacement licences under the Communications Act 2003 ("the Act") for the operation of the regional Channel 3 services, the National Breakfast licence and Channel 5 ("the Licensees"). These licences are due to expire on 31 December 2014. Under the provisions of the Act, the licensees may apply to renew their licence(s) for a further period of 10 years. Applications for licence renewal have been received from all the current licensees.
1.2 On 21 February 2013 Ofcom published a consultation setting out proposals to amend the geographic scope of the Channel 3 licences for Wales, the West of England and the South West of England from 1 January 2015.
1.3 This was one of three consultations that Ofcom published on the same day regarding the proposed renewal of the Channel 3 and 5 licences. The other two consultations related to the programming commitments for Channel 3 and Channel 5 licensees under their existing licences and the methodology for setting the financial terms for Channel 3 and Channel 5 licences from 1 January 2015.
1.4 Ofcom has carefully considered the contributions in response to the consultation. These contributions have been summarised in Section 3.
1.5 In light of the responses to the consultation, we have decided it is appropriate to amend the geographic scope of the Channel 3 licences for Wales, the West of England and the South West of England in order to create two separate licences: one for Wales and one for the West & South West of England from 1 January 2015.
