The company wants to remove the licence requirement, since it is planning to relaunch Jazz FM as a DAB station.
When GMG Radio first dropped its Jazz FM format in 2006 in favour of Smooth, it was told by the communications regulator that it must continue to air a minimum level of jazz programming to ensure fans of the genre continued to be catered for.
However, bosses at the station believe that jazz music is not an ideal fit with Smooth, which airs a diet of classic music from artists such as Diana Ross and Rod Stewart. And now with the planned relaunch of Jazz FM on DAB, the company believes Smooth should no longer be bound by the jazz programming licence condition.
Ofcom is now consulting on the company's request. The closing date for stakeholder responses is 11 April.
When GMG Radio first dropped its Jazz FM format in 2006 in favour of Smooth, it was told by the communications regulator that it must continue to air a minimum level of jazz programming to ensure fans of the genre continued to be catered for.
However, bosses at the station believe that jazz music is not an ideal fit with Smooth, which airs a diet of classic music from artists such as Diana Ross and Rod Stewart. And now with the planned relaunch of Jazz FM on DAB, the company believes Smooth should no longer be bound by the jazz programming licence condition.
Ofcom is now consulting on the company's request. The closing date for stakeholder responses is 11 April.
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