Ofcom lifts Two-Year Rule for local commercial stations

Ofcom’s Radio Licensing Committee on Tuesday  (Feb 23) agreed, with immediate effect, to remove the rule which prevents any change in Format for a station within two years of its launch.

The original purpose of this rule was to ensure that stations did not apply for a licence with a particular Format in the knowledge that they could then immediately apply for a change to that Format. As Ofcom does not intend to advertise any more analogue commercial licences at this stage, the main reason for this rule no longer exists.

Last year, the Formats of all local commercial stations over two years old were simplified, leaving the remainder (currently 16 stations) with the detailed Formats they submitted in their licence applications. The lifting of the rule now means those 16 stations will have their Formats simplified in line with all other local commercial stations.

Ofcom will be writing to each of the affected stations with the proposed new simplified Formats.

In addition, and in line with all other stations, any of the 16 stations affected may submit requests for changes to their Formats beyond simplification. Any request which would lead to a substantial change would be subject to public consultation before a decision by Ofcom’s Radio Licensing Committee.

The 16 stations affected are:

•           Original 106 (Bristol)
•           Minster Northallerton
•           KCFM (Hull)
•           Jack FM (Oxford)
•           Original (Aberdeen)
•           Sunshine FM (Hereford and Monmouth)
•           Nation Radio (South Wales)
•           Citytalk (Liverpool)
•           Smooth FM (North-East England)
•           Exeter  FM
•           Southend FM
•           Touch FM (Warwick)
•           Andover Sound
•           Rock Radio (Manchester)
•           Central FM (Preston) 
•           Perth FM