Global Radio decides not to appeal CAT

Global Radio has decided not to appeal the recent decision by the Competition Appeal Tribunal to uphold the Competition Commission’s decision on Global Radio’s takeover of GMG Radio.

Instead the company will now work towards selling radio stations in seven areas of the UK, as originally instructed to do so in May this year.

Global Radio originally bought GMG Radio in June 2012 and if it was to appeal the appeal – it would add at least another year to the process.

GMG Radio’s assets – now operating in a Hold Separate situation under the name of Real and Smooth Ltd – include the Real Radio network and four Smooth-branded stations.

In a statement to RadioToday, Global Radio said: “Global has today announced that it has decided not to appeal the CAT’s decision to uphold the Competition Commission’s (CC) decision in the Global-GMG radio merger.

“The CC found that Global was cleared to operate all the merged businesses’ stations in London and the West Midlands, and also cleared the merged business at the national level in terms of both national sales and programming content. The CC, however, required divestment of stations in seven local markets.

“Global will now proceed with that divestment with announcements not expected until early 2014.”

As a reminder, the stations Global are required to sell are as follows:

East Midlands: Smooth OR Capital
Cardiff and South Wales: Real OR Capital
North Wales: Real OR Heart
Greater Manchester and the North-West: Capital OR Real XS with either Real or Smooth
North-East: Real OR Smooth OR Capital
South and West Yorkshire: Real OR Capital
Central Scotland: Real OR Capital

RadioToday understands more announcements will be made by Global Radio in February.