Radio Authority Calls For Relaxation Of Ownership Rules

The Radio Authority has called for a relaxation of the restrictions on the ownership of radio licences in the UK. In a submission to the Department of National Heritage it suggests that the current limit of 20 licences per group should be scrapped. However, the Radio Authority does want to retain the current points system which limits any one group to a 15% share of the market.

One group that would immediately benefit from a change in the rules is GWR, which reached its limit of 20 licences with its recent takeover of Mid Anglia Radio. GWR’s own submission to the government on media ownership recommends that restrictions on cross media ownership should be limited to normal competition rules enforced by the OFT.