BCI policy on commercial radio licensing

April 20th, 2005 | by aobaoill |

The BCI has published its Radio Licensing Policy for Commercial Radio Services though it’s not yet on their website. There isn’t a huge amount to it – it’s 9 pages and something under 2,000 words in total – but is somewhat interesting, and obviously important in light of the current call for expressions of interest in new radio services. It lists four main policy objectives, which can be in tension with each other: diversity, viability, efficient use of spectrum and plurality.
By diversity they mean “providing the public with access to a wide range of quality programmes from a variety of sources” with an emphasis, derived from the legislation, on “the needs of the people of the island of Ireland, bearing in mind their language and traditions and their religious, ethical and cultural diversity.” This point is seen as linked with the idea of plurality of ownership. This seems to be the key factor by which proposals for new services will be judged, with the other factors acting as restrictions after a proposal satisfies this requirement.
The legislation directs the BCI to oversee the ‘orderly development of services’ and this is interpreted as requiring attention to the viability of services. Specifically, the addition of new services should not endanger the viability of existing services – something that gives, of course, a significant first mover advantage. However, there is an indication that this is to be balanced against the need for diversity and a mention of being open to new ways of creating franchise areas in order presumably to create new viable spaces.
The efficient use of spectrum is an important – if opaque – criterion. It is envisaged that the BCI will, as part of a re-planning of the AM and FM bands, release sections of spectrum that are not currently in use. Presumably, then, these sections would be allocated by ComReg to other purposes.
Finally, plurality refers to concentration in ownership – or rather being opposed to too much concentration. Notably concentration is to be viewed across communication media in general, not just radio:

The level of concentration of media ownership in a particular franchise area and in Ireland as a whole will be examined by the Commission prior to advertising new commercial services and at the time of the assessment of applications. The criteria identified by the Commission in its Ownership and Control Policy will be applied.

  1. One Response to “BCI policy on commercial radio licensing”

  2. By Simon McGarr on Apr 21, 2005 | Reply

    ie, Independant News and Media, and UTV both start any race for licences with a bit of a black mark against them.

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