Radio Authority Raises Licence Fees By 8%

The Radio Authority (RA) is to increase the amount it charges radio stations for their licences by an average of 8%. In order to meet the rising costs of developing and licensing digital radio, as well as conducting public interest tests, the RA will introduce the new licence fee tariff on 1 January 2000.

Stations will see their licence costs increase by 4-12%, depending on the size of the audience in their service area. The only national FM licensee, Classic FM, along with those FM local stations with coverage greater than one million people, will see fees increase by 8-12%. Fees for FM services with a potential coverage of less than one million will increase by 4%. All AM services, national and local, will increase by 4%.

This is the first time in the Authority’s history that the licence fees have been increased. The RA is required to generate enough income each year to cover its costs, but it does not operate on a profit-making basis.

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Radio Authority: 0171 430 2724