Martin Steers | Friday 10th January 2025 10:54am
Ofcom is currently consulting on their work plan for the 2025-2026 period. Whilst they mention continuation SSDAB there is no mention of any new rounds of analogue licencing. There are also no currently published plans or roadmap for new analogue (AM/FM) Community Radio licenses to be offered.
Our view is that this may not be the best approach to serve local communities who are desperate for a local radio service - whilst SSDAB is an opportunity for Community Radio, it won't be viable in all areas, and for many areas it is still many years away, while the whole of SSDAB licencing may be completed by the end of 2025 once awarded multiplex operators have a further 18 months to launch.
We are minded to call on Ofcom to consider a limited and specific application process for FM radio in this work plan period, to start the process of general applications, and also consider special areas and circumstances where they licence new stations now. Especially to look at areas where analogue Community Radio licences have been surrendered (sometimes against the will or interest of the community and those involved with the station) or where stations have been off air for a considerable amount of time despite other groups wanting the licence to continue.
There are many organisations and groups that want to launch analogue radio station, they might even already be an existing internet-based station, or already on SSDAB but still want an analogue licence. In some communities, audiences are being deprived of a local radio service, especially since the changes to local BBC, and the recent announcements from Bauer Radio and Global Radio to almost completely remove local programming from traditional local licences.
We want to hear from groups and organisations who are in this situation and can engage with us so we have a bigger picture of the situation.
We also want to encourage groups and organisations to consider making representations to Ofcom to show interest in additional analogue licensing and also encourage stations to contact their local Councils, Mayors, MPs and other key stakeholders to encourage them to engage with the Ofcom process to push for a commitment for new analogue licenses.
We are happy to help and would love to look at a coordinated approach to working with Ofcom on this matter.
Below is a questionnaire to gauge interest in future analogue licenses and for us to look at coordination on approach and responses. - This should be completed by the station manager or management group/committee etc representative.
We will be submitting a response to Ofcom and making representations based on the feedback from this survey and engagement with stations. The more stations that we have complete the survey the more weight we have with Ofcom and the Government for the argument for new analogue licences.
By completing this form you are consenting on us sharing the information with relevant stakeholders and publishing areas/stations that have engaged with us.
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