For the first time in five years the Radio Authority has increased its application fees for local radio licences. This is as a result of the increasing costs of processing applications
The price increase will effect all those applications which must be received by the Authority after 1 April 1997. The applications fees for a full-term, eight-year, local radio licence will be increased by between 50 to 100%, depending on the size of the radio licence area. The application fees for restricted service licences, typically used for special events and trial services, will be increased by £50, this takes immediate effect.
The highest increases will effect applications for licences covering areas with a potential audience of over 4.5 million adults. In these cases, fees will rise from £2,650 to £5,300 for FM licences, and from £1,770 to £3,540 for AM licences. In areas covering less than 400,000 adults, the application fee will increase from £250 TO £375 for FM licences, and from £165 to £250 for AM licences.
Commenting on the new tariff, Tony Stoller, chief executive of the Radio Authority, said: “We have set the new application fees at sensible rates which more closely match the costs of processing applications..”
….The Radio Authority has announced that the holding of three ILR licences, Essex Fm, The Breeze and Ten 17, by Essex Radio plc, could not be expected to operate against the public interest in the area concerned. Essex Radio plc may continue to hold all three licences.
In a separate case, the Authority has to determine whether it is in the public interest for GWR Group plc, which broadcasts an FM service in Gloucester and Cheltenham, can go ahead with its planned acquisition of Radio Wyvern Ltd. Radio Wyvern broadcasts an FM and an AM service in the Hereford and Worcester area. The Authority is therefore seeking public comment on the matter. It is keen to discover whether any reduction of the plurality of ownership of radio services in the area would result if the acquisition was given the go-ahead. It also wants to receive comments on the effect of the sale on the range of programming and diversity of sources of information available in that area.
Radio Authority: 0171 405 7058
