The Commercial Radio Companies Association (CRCA) is expected to complain to the culture secretary, Chris Smith, over the way in which the Radio Authority (RA) awards its licences.
This follows an edition of BBC’s Newsnight earlier in the week, in which allegations were made about misconduct in the awarding of licences by the RA. Newsnight said that no reasons were given for the RA’s change of heart to reward its east of England licence to first Esprit FM, then Vibe FM, and described the decision making process as ‘something of a lottery’.
The RA has hit back at Newsnight’s accusations however, and vehemently denies that it acted inappropriately.
The Authority’s chairman, Sir Peter Gibbings, said: “This Newsnight programme was biased, unbalanced and seriously inaccurate. It follows a wide-ranging investigation by BBC Newsnight over the past four months which has amounted to a concerted attempt to discredit the Authority.
“It is significant that the Authority is concerned with an industry that is in fierce and increasingly effective competition with the BBC. No declaration of the BBC’s interest was made in the programme, despite a written undertaking that it would be ‘highlighted'”, Gibbings continued.
The RA also complained that little of the interview material shot with its spokesperson was used in the programme, failing to give the RA the opportunity to put its whole and balanced argument across.
An independent inquiry has now been instigated by the Authority by its external auditors over its decision making process in awarding licences, and the RA is expected to make further comment once the inquiry is complete.
Radio Authority: 0171 405 7058 BBC: 0181 743 8000 CRCA: 0171 306 2603
