NEWS: OFCOM INTRODUCES NEW PROCEDURE FOR LOCAL COMMERCIAL RADIO STATIONS REQUESTING FORMAT CHANGES by GRANT GODDARD

www.grantgoddard.co.uk February 2006

Stations wishing to change their Format have been provided with a new formal procedure by Ofcom, following concerns that the existing system was insufficiently transparent. Until now, Format changes were being made at both officer level and through consultation. Under the new system, a proposed change will be categorised as either a 'substantial change' or an 'insubstantial change'. If the proposed change requires a change of wording in the licensees 'Character of Service' section of its Format, it will be considered 'substantial'. In such an event, Ofcom will issue a consultation before passing the change to its Content Board for comment, with a final decision made by the Radio Licensing Committee. If the change is considered 'insubstantial', no consultation will be issued, but the Radio Content team will report the change to the Content Board, with a final decision similarly made by the Radio Licensing Committee. Ofcom will apply the following criteria in making its decision: The extent of the impact of the change on the stations overall 'sound' The time elapsed since the licence was awarded The commitment made in the original licence application The views of listeners and stakeholders The avoidance of 'format creep' Whether the station broadcasts on AM or FM Whether the Format was originally issued by Ofcom or by The Radio Authority. As a rule, Ofcom says that no substantial changes will be permitted within the first five years of a licence, regardless of any change of ownership that may ensue. Substantial changes to AM licences will be more willingly agreed than those for FM licences. If the licence was issued by the Radio Authority, Ofcom says that it may need updating anyway in the light of current Ofcom practice. Licensees considering possible Format changes are recommended to contact Ofcoms Radio Content team for advice on the supporting information that will be required. This would obviate the problem of some recent applicants who have failed to attach sufficiently robust research to support their arguments. Ofcom says it will make an annual review of all Format changes to ensure that decisions that have been made outside of the Radio Licensing Committee were properly made, and to ensure that a series of individually minor changes do not aggregate to a substantial change which has not been properly scrutinised. In its submission to the consultation, the Commercial Radio Companies Association had argued that the prospect of a public consultation can be a major deterrent to licensees making Format change requests, as adverse public reaction to a public consultation can be considerably greater than the actual format change itself.
[First published in 'The Radio Magazine' as 'New System For Format Changes', #724, 22 February 2006]

News: Ofcom Introduces New Procedure For Local Commercial Radio Stations Requesting Format Changes 2006 Grant Goddard

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Grant Goddard is a media analyst / radio specialist / radio consultant with thirty years of experience in the broadcasting industry, having held senior management and consultancy roles within the commercial media sector in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. Details at http://www.grantgoddard.co.uk

News: Ofcom Introduces New Procedure For Local Commercial Radio Stations Requesting Format Changes 2006 Grant Goddard

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