RLC PAPER 45(07)
Page 1 of 4
Community Radio Licence Awards:
West and South Yorkshire and the Humber (Batch 3) and
North Wales and northwest England (Batch 1)
1.
The applications
We are bringing seven applications to RLC for its consideration at this meeting;
[Information not relevant to Request]. The applicants are:
• RB FM, Barnsley
•
[Information not relevant to Request]
[Information not relevant to Request]
RLC members may wish to look at the ful applications. These are available at
www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/commun_radio/tlproc/applications/yorkapps/ and
www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/commun_radio/tlproc/applications/nwales_nwengland/
nwnweapps/. (If sections have been removed and kept confidential at the request of
the applicant, please contact [Redacted s40]) wil send a copy of the ful
applications.)
Table of assessment scores
This table shows the scores given by assessors for each application under the seven
selection criteria headings. This is to help highlight the relative strengths and
weaknesses for each application and is intended to be indicative only. A score of
between 0 and 10 has been used for each criterion.
Applicant
(1a)
(1b)
(1c)
(1d)
(1e)
(1f)
(1g)
RB FM
[s36] [s36] [s36] [s36] [s36] [s36] [s36]
[Information not relevant to
Request]
Sc105(1a):
ability to maintain service
Sc105(1b):
catering for tastes and interests
Sc105(1c):
broadening of choice and being distinct
Sc105(1d):
evidence of demand and support
Sc105(1e):
extent of social gain
Sc105(1f):
accountability to the community
Sc106(1g):
access and training in use of facilities
2.
Frequencies
A potential FM frequency has been identified for Barnsley. [Information not relevant
to Request]. Therefore RLC can make awards in these locations if it wishes (the first
three applications listed above).
[Information not relevant to Request]
RLC PAPER 45(07)
Page 2 of 4
3.
Existing local commercial and community radio services
Section 105(1c) requires Ofcom to consider the extent to which a proposed
community radio service wil broaden choice against other local commercial or
community radio services (but not digital radio, national commercial services or the
BBC) available in the local area. The existing services which need to be taken into
consideration in respect of each community radio licence application under
consideration at this RLC meeting are listed below. The ‘character of service’
summarising the format is also given (and in some cases the ful format description is
given).
• The proposed coverage areas of
[Information not relevant to Request] and
RB FM (Barnsley)
would fal within the MCAs of Magic AM, Real Radio,
Galaxy, Hal am FM and Dearne FM.
Magic AM is a soft, music-led service aimed primarily at over-30s in the
Humberside area.
Real Radio (Yorkshire) is a ‘ful -service’ mix of talk and music with 24 hour
news for Yorkshire targeting primarily 35-54 year olds.
Galaxy is a rhythmic-based music led service for 15-29 year olds
supplemented with news, information and entertainment. The service should
have particular appeal to listeners in their 20s.
Hal am FM is a chart and adult contemporary music and information station
for 15-44 year olds in South Yorkshire.
Dearne FM is a local y-focussed music and information station for Barnsley
and the immediately surrounding area, with a strong commitment to local
news.
Dearne FM is a truly local service aimed primarily at those aged 25-54 that is
built around a high quality news and information service which puts Barnsley
first. Speech wil account for at least 15% of weekday daytime output and,
other than news, should include such features as travel news, weather and
'what's on' information. Bul etins containing local news are broadcast at least
hourly between 0630-midnight on weekdays and 0800-1300 on weekends/
public holidays (inclusive). Outside of these times, national/international news
wil be broadcast hourly. An extended bul etin, of at least 6 minutes duration
wil be broadcast each weekday afternoon during peaktime.
The music output is a broad and distinctive mix of melodic hits from the last
four decades (or earlier, if desired). During daytime, current/recurrent hits (up
to six months old) account for no more than 30% of tracks played, and at
least 35% of tracks should be over ten years old. A two hour country music
programme is broadcast weekly, outside of peaktime. Other specialist
programming that complements the main mix can be broadcast outside of
daytime.
• The proposed coverage area of
RB FM (Barnsley)
may also, at the margins,
fal within the coverage area of Ridings FM (MCA 347k).
RLC PAPER 45(07)
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Ridings FM is a local y oriented music and information station aimed primarily
at 25-54 year-olds in the Wakefield area, with a strong commitment to local
news.
[Information not relevant to Request]
4.
Summary of economic impact considerations
Col eagues have considered the potential economic impact of licensing each of the
applications under consideration by RLC today, on both local commercial and
community broadcasters in the relevant locations. In particular, RLC members may
wish to note the fol owing:
Annex 1 of this paper sets out the results of an economic impact assessment carried
out by col eagues. This work investigated the likely impacts of licensing two
community services,
RBFM (in Barnsley) [Information not relevant to Request], upon
the viability of the existing commercial station, Dearne FM.
Since the RLC decided not to license two community services in Barnsley in
February 2006 (RLC 22(06)), Dearne FM has grown from a fledgling station into a
sucesseful one. In this its second application RBFM has significantly scaled back its
plans to generate commercial revenue from £144k to £25k. [Information not relevant
to Request]In conclusion neither of these community services wil have a material
impact on Dearne FM.
[Information not relevant to Request]
5.
Assessors’ recommendations
RB FM, Barnsley
This is a second application from the long-established Radio Barnsley, based at and
owned by the local YMCA. With 15 RSL broadcasts to date, the group has good local
connections and strong social gain elements including an existing accredited training
programme. However the group does not always convincingly demonstrate how its
programming would focus on its identified target of younger and older residents in
urban Barnsley town in order to differentiate itself from the existing commercial
station, Dearne FM, which targets 25-45 year olds and covers the wider borough.
(An FM frequency has been identified for use in Barnsley. The applicant has chosen
a poor site with a low aerial height; a site move might improve potential coverage.)
[Redacted s36]
[Information not relevant to Request]
[Redacted s40]
6 December 2007
RLC PAPER 45(07)
Page 4 of 4
Annex 1
Economic Impact Assessment of RBFM [Information not relevant to request]
on Dearne FM.
Dearne FM’s Current Financial Position
Dearne FM commenced broadcasting on 5th March 2003. The station is owned by
Lincs FM plc which operates seven similar-sized stations in northern England. The
group remains independent.
[Redacted s43]
Dearne FM’s audience
Dearne FM is the Commercial market leader in Barnsley. In its 224k1 TSA is has a
static but high reach of 30% and a market share of 14.4% (Q3 2007 RAJAR).
Advertisers
[Redacted s43]
The financial impact of RBFM (Barnsley)
Since its last application, RBFM has total y re-jigged its financial forecast. Last time,
RBFM ‘guestimated’ £144k of revenue from the sale of on-air spot advertising. The
current proposals show it generating £125k in total, of which only £25k is from
commercial sources. Even if al this revenue was taken from Dearne FM it would not
have a significant impact.
[Information not relevant to Request]
1 Significantly higher than its MCA and now nearly 50% over the 150k protection zone
