Ofcom Announces Local Radio To Roll Out But Local TV Halted

Following a consultation, Ofcom has decided not to advertise or re-advertise licences for 13 local TV locations, in order to help protect the economic sustainability of the sector as a whole, Ofcom said.

Ofcom says that it would remain open to any prospective local TV provider to ask Ofcom to advertise a licence for any area which is not already served by an existing local TV service, or to extensions for existing licensees, if the requests were supported by Comux.

However, Ofcom is planning the roll out of small scale DAB local radio stations and is inviting expressions of interest. The closing date for the submission of expressions of interest is 21 September this year.

Approximately seventy local radio stations across the UK are currently broadcasting on small-scale DAB as part of an Ofcom trial to inform a new, formal framework for licensing small-scale DAB multiplexes, which is currently in development.

Separately, with regard to its role regulating the BBC, Ofcom is now consulting on some proposed modifications, including new transparency and reporting requirements, around the interaction between the BBC Public Service and its commercial activities.

The deadline for responses is 24 September.

Ofcom is also consulting on regulation of the BBC’s commissioning online current affairs (non- news), radio and TV.