UKRD boss William Rogers has urged Ofcom to have radical re-think when they review regulatory policy for the smaller radio sector in the next few months.
It comes after his company handed back the FM licence for Stroud at the end of September, meaning the closure of Star Radio.
Welcoming the announcement that Ofcom intends to look seriously at the issue, Rogers said, “I am very pleased that there is to be a review and I hope this opportunity will be used to radically re-think the whole regulatory approach to smaller scale radio operations.”
However, he urged those involved not to “limit their thoughts by artificial boundaries,” and encouraged the “widest possible review that takes into account every component part of what makes these stations far more difficult to run and manage than their larger counter-parts.”
“This is not a time for timidity,” said Rogers. “This is a time for the industry and the regulator to take a realistic look at what is going on within the smaller sector. Commercial radio has been its own worst enemy by allowing the perception to develop that there is always value and always growth potential within this part of the sector. Under the present regulatory regime, that is simply nonsense,” he claimed.
Attacking the BBC as “one of the most pampered and outrageously privileged media businesses on the planet”, he also called on Ofcom to reflect upon what needs to be done to permit the commercial sector to “effectively compete in the real world” as opposed to “the world which the regulatory framework imposes.”
“This is a great opportunity for commercial radio and, if tackled with genuine radical fervour, is one which can make a huge difference to the commercial radio industry. I can only hope that the brains which will be addressing this review both inside and outside of Ofcom Towers will be bold in their approach,” said Rogers.