Nation Radio cuts the news

Nation Radio has gained Ofcom permission to reduce its news output to at least one bulletin an hour at peak times.

The format change request comes two years after the station started broadcasting to South Wales, originally as Xfm.

Previously, the station was commited to providing news "At least hourly during weekday daytime and 0800-1400 at weekends". Its new format now reads as "At least hourly at peaktime".

Ofcom’s Review of Local Media research, published in July 2009, confirmed that “many consumers, especially those from the younger age groups, regard radio more as a source of information, music and entertainment, rather than local news content.”

The station is owned by Town and Country Broadcasting, and Executive Chairman Jason Bryant agreed with the above statement: "As Nation is clearly targeted at younger age groups, and with music being the defining characteristic of the station, we believe the change will allow us to underline our distinctiveness in the South Wales marketplace whilst continuing to provide key local news and information at peak times."

Ofcom agreed the change saying: "We feel the change of bulletin schedule for a station with a prime raison d’etre revolving around rock music would not amount to a substantial change in the character of its service."