Following a higher-than-anticipated volume of responses from the industry, the media regulator admitted that the Future of Radio document – which was initially to be unveiled this month – would not be released until later in the year.
In its consultation paper, released in April, Ofcom said it would address format regulation, co- location and the idea of a switch-off for the AM frequency, but came under fire from the industry for its “half-hearted and insufficient” approach to the future of radio.
However, one radio owner said this week he would rather the document was late and right than simply on time.
Scott Taunton, chief executive of TalkSport owner UTV Radio, is one of those contesting proposals to turn off the AM feed. “Ofcom needs to take some radical steps because the world has moved on,” he said. “We would rather it got [the document] right and if that means it takes longer then fine.”
UTV is one of several players that would benefit from co-location, which allows more than one station to broadcast from the same site.
In its proposals, Ofcom is expected to approve co-location of stations that are owned by the same company and to change format regulations. In the past year, two regional stations have handed their licences back to Ofcom in protest, arguing that they are unworkable and “simply uneconomic” under existing format criteria.
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