Notes 24th Meeting 8 June 2006

Chairman’s Introduction

1. The Chairman welcomed Members to the 24th meeting of the Radio Licensing Committee. All members were present throughout with the exception of Ian Hargreaves and Matthew MacIver who had given their apologies. Other Ofcom colleagues were also present throughout or attended for part of the meeting:

Minutes of the previous Meeting

2. The minutes of the Radio Licensing Committee Meeting held on 11 th May 2006 were agreed as an accurate record.

Matters Arising

3. The Committee was updated on the progress of action points from previous meetings.

Local commercial radio licence award: Newry

4. After a full and careful discussion of each licence application, and having regard in particular to the factors set out in section 105 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 and section 314 of the Communications Act 2003, the Committee awarded the licence to Five FM (Newry and Mourne FM Ltd), which is owned by The Irish News (28.5%), The Tontine Rooms Holding Co (owned by Alpha News Group) (22.5%), and other individuals (49%). It was noted that the announcement regarding the winning licence application would be made on the same day and a statement explaining the factors which led the Committee to its decision was scheduled to be published in due course.

Applications for Exeter local commercial radio licence.

5. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed the four applications received for the Exeter licence. The Committee was scheduled to make its final decision at the 14 th September 2006 meeting.

Applications for Andover local commercial radio licence.

6. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed the two applications received for the Andover licence. The Committee was scheduled to make its final decision at the 6 th July 2006 meeting.

Format Change Requests

7. The Radio Licensing Committee considered two Format change requests.

Request to Vary Local Radio Multiplex Licences: North East England, North-West England, South Wales/Seven Estuary, West Midlands, Yorkshire

8. The Radio Licensing Committee considered a request submitted by a multiplex operator to modify the range of programming services available on each of its five regional digital multiplexes.

List of approved Format Changes – 23 February 2006 to 9 May 2006.

9. The Radio Licensing Committee noted the list of approved Format changes from 23 February 2006 until 9 May 2006.

Current Purdah Lists.

10. The Radio Licensing Committee noted the current “Purdah Lists”.

AOB

The Future Licensing of DAB Digital Radio; draft statement.

11. The Radio Licensing Committee noted that the paper had been endorsed by the Ofcom Board, and that the final statement would make clear the position regarding coverage following the conclusion of the Regional Radio Conference. The Committee would be updated in due course.

Co-location request.

12. The Radio Licensing Committee considered a Co-location request.

Committee thanks to Pam Giddy and Matthew MacIver, RLC Content Board Members.

13. The Radio Licensing Committee recognised that, due to the Content Board application and re-application process currently in progress, this may be the last RLC meeting attended by the current Content Board Members. The Committee thanked Pam Giddy and Matthew MacIver for their valuable contribution to the Radio Licensing Committee over the last two years.

Date of next meeting

14. To be held on Thursday 6 July 2006 in London.

July 2006