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LOCAL RADIO LICENCES: CHANGE OF CONTROL REVIEWS

Whenever a local radio licence undergoes a 'change of control' (for example, when it is sold), Ofcom is required under section 355 of the Communications Act 2003 to undertake a review of its programme output.

Specifically, Ofcom must review the likely effect of the change of control on:

• the quality and range of programmes included in the service;
• the character of the service; and,
• the extent to which local material and locally-made programmes are included in the service.

When the review has been completed, Ofcom may amend the content requirements of the licence.

Ofcom must determine whether the change of control would prejudice any of the three matters listed above. If it decides that it would, then it must amend the licence, by imposing new programming obligations. However, these may only reflect what the previous owner was actually delivering.

• The Wave 102 (Dundee) Change of Control Review
  Published 05|06|08
• Acquisition of Emap Radio (Holdings) Limited by Bauer UK Radio GmbH
  Published 07|02|08
• Oak FM Change of Control Review
  Published 21|12|07
• UTV Group Re-organisation
  Published 07|11|07
• Acquisition of Chrysalis Radio by Global Radio
  Published 31|08|07
• Acquisition of The Saint (now 107.8 Radio Hampshire) by Town & Country Broadcasting
• Acquisition of Classic Gold Digital by GCap Media
• Acquisition of Q Network and Six by Northern Media Group
• Fresh Radio transfer to Laser
• Acquisition of Saga East Midlands, West Midlands and Glasgow by GMG
• Acquisition of Win FM from The Local Radio Company by Tindle Radio Ltd.
  30 December 2006
• Acquisition of Bridge FM, Radio Carmarthenshire/Scarlet FM and Radio Pembrokeshire by Town and Country
• Acquisition of BCR, Classic Hits, Quay 102.4 and Sunshine 855 by Laser Broadcasting
• Acquisition of Kestrel FM, Kick FM and Radio Norwich by Tindle Radio
• Acquisition of 96.3 QFM, 105.4 Century FM and Century FM by GMG
• Acquisition of 106.7 The Rocket
• Acquisition of CTR by KMFM
• Acquisition of Mansfield 103.2 by Murfin Media Ltd
• Acquisition of Passion 107.9 by Absolute Radio Int
• Acquisition of Rugby FM by CN Group
• Licences operated by Forever Broadcasting plc
• Acquisition of licences operated by Tainside Ltd (Choice FM) by Capital Radio plc
• Acquisition of Time FM (Thamesmead) and Fusion 107.3 (Lewisham) by London Media Company Ltd
• Acquisition of SouthCity FM by Southampton Leisure Holdings plc
• Acquisition of Radio Ceredigion by Tindle Newspapers Ltd
• Licences operated by Radio Investments Ltd
• Acquisition of Star 106.6 by the London Media Company Ltd
• Acquisition of 2BR FM by The Local Radio Company plc
• Acquisition of Telford FM by MNA Broadcasting Ltd.
• Acquisition of Delta FM by Tindle Newspapers Ltd.
• Acquisition of Dune FM by The Local Radio Company plc
• Licences operated by GWR Group plc
• Licences operated by Saga Ltd. (Management Buy-Out)
• Acquisition of Spirit FM by The Local Radio Company plc
• Acquisition of KCR FM by The Local Radio Company plc
• Acquisition of Mercury FM (St Albans & Watford) by Adventure Radio Ltd.
• Acquisition of Your Radio (Dumbarton) and Your Radio (Helensburgh) by Clyde and Forth Press Ltd.
• Licences operated by The Wireless Group plc
• Overview of SRH 355 Reviews
• Acquisition of Hertbeat FM by Shadow Radio Holdings Ltd.
• Acquisition of Bath FM by The Local Radio Company plc
• Acquisition of Century 106 (East Midlands) by Chrysalis Radio Ltd
• Acquisition of Juice FM (Liverpool) by UTV Radio (GB) Ltd
• Acquisition of FM107 The Edge by Perth FM Ltd.
• Acquisition of Reading 107 by Madejski Communications Ltd

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