Radiocentre has welcomed new proposals from Ofcom to give radio stations greater flexibility in how they produce their output.
Ofcom’s latest consultation on commercial radio content rules released today (22 June) follows confirmation from the Government at the end of 2017 that it would like to see stations given more freedom.
The full range of changes outlined by the Government will require new legislation, which Ministers have acknowledged will only happen when Parliamentary time allows. However, in the interim the Government has said it would support any moves by Ofcom to change its rules and guidance, providing as much flexibility as possible.
Ofcom has now considered the evidence and proposed several changes to its localness guidelines. These changes will not affect commercial radio’s continuing commitment to local news and information output, but will provide stations with the option to seek more flexibility in how and where they make programmes in future.
Specifically, Ofcom is proposing a reduction in the minimum number of daytime hours that are made in a local studio during weekdays from 7hrs to 3hrs (where stations provide regular local news) and 10 hrs to 6 hours (for others). These local hours would not need to include breakfast/ peak and there would be no requirement for local hours at weekends.
On approved areas (regions where the remaining locally-made content in produced), Ofcom proposes merging 31 current areas to mirror the 12 local regions used by ITV. This would enable stations to co-locate or share local programming across larger areas than at present.
Siobhan Kenny, Radiocentre CEO, said: “These proposals from Ofcom are a welcome first step towards implementing the plans announced last year by Government to reform the pre-internet rules that still govern commercial radio.
“Radio stations need to be able to address and embrace technological change, not be shackled to an outdated regulatory system. Once enacted these changes will help unlock the potential of commercial radio, giving stations greater flexibility in how they operate and the ability to provide an even better service for listeners.”
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So basically this means less localness.
Tell you what Ofcom, why not just let Heart and Smooth kill ILR completely. You may as well with this legislation.
Well they would welcome it. Noticed the comment about true proposals being a first step.What is there more to cut after this if it goes ahead-presumably any commitment apart from a token minute of local news each hour?
Given that Global & Bauer are the two largest shareholders within this organisation, they would welcome this.
Ofcom may as well have just said: “You know what? We can’t be arsed with this regulation thing so we chaps got together and thought it would be a jolly good idea to let our media mogul pals regulate themselves. Nothing could go wrong with that, could it?”
Oh great! Let’s hand Bauer and Global it on a plate. Of course Radio Centre supports the move. Who are two of Radio Centres biggest supporters? Could it be Bauer and Global? I don’t see the point of Ofcom as they are just a Mickey Mouse regulator. Gutless and won’t stand up to the big boys.
These big groups promise local news a tiny 30 odd seconds on the hour
A three hour weekday local programme serving areas as large as the Hampshire Border to Cornwall and Milton Keynes to Canterbury would be a waste of time anyway and would only probably be voicetracked music shows as there is no way you can be local with such big areas-suspect they would be inserted in off peak times such as 1-4pm but as happened when this occurred on medium wave stations the local element was extremely marginal and would be even worse with these huge areas-they must as well network the whole lot if they are going to do this!.
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If this is greater flexibility I’m the Archbishop Of Canterbury
As others have commented, this spells the death-knell for local commercial radio, basically leaving it up to the owners. What that means in practice is demonstrated by current practices against the existing regulations.
My local station (Lakeland Radio) was taken over by Global – most presenters lost their jobs, including the most popular one(!), they applied to reduce local content to the bare regulatory minimum, and were approved. The station doesn’t involve itself in the community any more, such as covering local events, and the community has been negatively affected by this. Global also decided our area only wanted to listen to the banality that is “Smooth” – so virtually nobody listens at all any more.
We complained to Global and our concerns were dismissed, with a “Daddy knows best” patronising attitude. We submitted multiple evidence-based complaints to Ofcom, which were batted away with flimsy excuses – they didn’t even address the charge that Global had fundamentally changed the station’s character, which is something their job is to ensure does not happen. The matter is now with our MP, who will be taking Ofcom to task for their failings in this matter.
Contrast this with the local station in the region just north of me (CFM). This was taken over by Bauer. It has retained most of its local programming, still gets involved with the community, and significantly exceeds the requirements by several hours a day. I’m not being sycophantic to Bauer here, because I don’t know what they’re like in the rest of the country, but Cumbria’s experience, so far at least, is that Bauer are significantly better at localness, and more sympathetic to the community than Global.
The outcome here is clear. If your local station is owned by a company that understands the value & ethics of local programming, then you get a good local service. If your local station is owned by a blinkered London-centric company, however, you can kiss goodbye to your local station (unless you live in London of course!). With Ofcom failing to do their duty, and the current legislation being too weak already, things are bad enough as they are, so we don’t need weaker legislation & less regulation in radio – we need stronger legislation & more regulation in radio!
I have written to my MP opposing this move, as has a friend in a neighbouring constituency, who used to work in local radio. I have also asked the campaign group I set up, calling for the restoration of Lakeland Radio, to ask all their families & friends, across as many constituencies they can reach, to write to their MPs, opposing this move by government, and calling for stricter regulation of radio. I implore everybody reading this to write to your MPs too. We need to make a stand, and at least try to stop this.