Radio Centre Urges Ofcom To Be Bold
The commercial radio trade body, the Radio Centre, has called on communications regulator Ofcom to set out a road map for the future of radio, insisting the watchdog needs to take a more radical approach to deregulation.
Unveiling the details of its 70-page submission to Ofcom in response to the regulator’s ‘Future of Radio’ consultation (see Ofcom Outlines Its Future Vision For Radio), the Radio Centre chief executive, Andrew Harrison, called for the removal of restrictions on the concentration of ownership and asked Ofcom to be more clear about the digital radio future, which may include analogue switch-off.
“In the absence of a road map we are being forced to think about our future without knowing what the end game will be,” he said. “We are urging Ofcom to be bold.”
He also called on Ofcom to immediately implement a programme of deregulation and not wait for digital listening to increase further, as the regulator suggested in the consultation document it published in June.
The body also said that its own Big Listen research project (see Poll Launches On The Future Of Commercial Radio) showed that listeners feel that commercial radio should no longer be subject to quotas for locally produced programming.
It also pointed to research conducted by polling group YouGov showing that 91% of people agreed that “radio is an important part of my life”.
“With new technologies and demands on consumers’ time continuing to emerge, commercial radio is continuing to invest in inspiring content and multi-platform presence to win audience and revenues,” said Harrison.
“We need Ofcom to play its part in enabling that investment by reducing commercial radio’s regulatory burden.” While praising Ofcom for carrying out last month’s review, the centre’s response was driven by financial pressure, he added.
He said commercial radio had a combined turnover of just under £600 million as well as contending with a “triple-market intervention” in the form of the BBC, community radio and heavy regulation.
The statements come after a heated Westminster seminar last month during which Ofcom’s consultation document was roundly attacked by industry figures.
Radio Centre: http://www.radiocentre.org