Radio Bosses Urge Ofcom To Consider Radio Overhaul
Radio bosses have asked Ofcom to consider a radical overhaul of radio regulations, claiming that smaller commercial stations outside London cannot compete with the BBC.
The radio chiefs, such as GCap’s Ralph Bernard and Emap’s Dee Ford, have also suggested that stations with a potential audience of fewer than 500,000 listeners should be allowed to cut local content to as little as three hours a day in favour of networked programmes.
“We all agree that localness is important to our listeners. However, it is also clear that quality of output is of greater importance,” said a letter to the regulator from the commercial radio representative body, the Radio Centre.
“It is against [the BBC] that every local commercial station must compete daily, on terms that are heavily skewed in the BBC’s favour. Few local commercial stations have the resources to recruit the kind of talent, or produce the kind of programme, that can compete with the likes of Chris Moyles, Jeremy Vine or Chris Evans.”
It continued: “Indeed, even if a commercial station did have this kind of resource, the reality is that this kind of talent is rarely available based outside of London. And even where such talent is available, local or regional stations often present less attractive opportunities.”
The appeal was sent to Ofcom earlier this month as part of the regulator’s ‘Future of Radio’ consultation about the industry’s regulation (see Ofcom Outlines Its Future Vision For Radio).
It was also signed by the Global Radio chief executive, Ashley Tabor; the GMG Radio chief executive, John Myers; the chief executive of TalkSport parent UTV Radio, Scott Taunton; and the Global Radio chairman, Charles Allen (see Chrysalis Radio To Sell For £170 Million).
Under Ofcom’s proposals, small, medium and large stations would be required to broadcast four, eight and 13 hours respectively of locally produced and presented content each weekday.
The Radio Centre wants this to be changed to a minimum of three hours for stations with potential audiences of less than 500,000, and seven hours for stations broadcasting to more than 500,000 potential listeners.
“Commercial radio could then have the best of both worlds: quality programming to compete effectively with the BBC, but with something the national BBC stations can’t deliver – local output at the relevant times of day,” the letter said.
The results of the ‘Future of Radio’ consultation were due to be published this month. However, they have been delayed by the volume of feedback, and are now not expected until towards the end of this year.
The latest RAJAR radio listening figures, for Q3 2007, will be published tomorrow, with NewsLine providing full coverage of the major trends.
Ofcom: 020 7981 3040 www.ofcom.org.uk RAJAR: 020 7903 5350 www.rajar.co.uk