Radio Authority Rejects London Licence Complaints

Chelverton Investments, which controlled LBC before it went into receivership, has written to the Radio Authority calling for the London licence which has been awarded to London News Radio to be re-advertised. The row comes because of the announcement last week that Reuters is to acquire London News Radio. LBC claims that LNR has now changed completely from the time of the award.

The Radio Authority has replied, rejecting the call for re-advertisement. A spokesperson from the Radio Authority told MediaTel that the change of ownership of LNR has actually been endorsed by them, and providing that Reuters and LNR keep to the original terms of programming and output, the Radio Authority would have no reason not to issue them with the licence.

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TALK RADIO UK – DETAILS

Talk Radio UK, the new station awarded the national commercial licence yesterday, has released details of its programming. There will be a mix of news, humour, drama and entertainment shows, based on debate and interactive programming. There will be both well-known and new presenters.

John Aumonier, Talk Radio UK Managing Director, said, “For the listeners, Talk Radio UK will be lively, contemporary, entertaining, often controversial and at all times agenda setting.” Talk Radio UK expects to launch in February of next year.

Talk Radio is fully funded; Media Ventures International owns 31%; CanWest Global Communications and Emmis Broadcasting each have 24.5%; Hambros Bank has 15% and Radio Investings 5%.