Radio Authority 'pre-advertises' licence for Heads of South Wales Valleys

135/02

7 November 2002

Radio Authority 'pre-advertises' licence for Heads of South Wales Valleys

The Radio Authority is next week (15 November) publishing a notice inviting declarations of intent to apply for the local radio licence on the AM (medium wave) band for the Heads of the Valleys area, in South Wales, for an eight-year period from 23 November 2004. The present licence, held by Valley Radio Ltd. (The Wireless Group plc), broadcasting as Valleys Radio, is due to expire on 22 November 2004. The station provides coverage of an area with an adult (aged 15+) population of around 480,000.

This licence is being 'pre-advertised' under the provisions of the 'special application procedure' introduced in the 1996 Broadcasting Act. Prospective applicants, including the existing licensee, have until Tuesday, 17 December 2002 to submit a declaration of intent, notifying the Authority that they wish to apply for this licence. A declaration of intent must be accompanied by a non-refundable application fee of £3,500, together with the payment of a deposit of £26,700 which will be refundable upon receipt by the Authority of a valid application in response to the subsequent advertisement of the licence.

If the only declaration of intent submitted is from the existing licence-holder, the Authority will invite Valleys Radio to re-apply for the licence under an abbreviated 'fast track' procedure. The licensee has confirmed that any uncontested re-application would be made on the basis of maintaining the existing programme format, as required under the Authority's agreed procedure. In these circumstances, a copy of the non-confidential part of the re-application document would be available to the public at the Authority’s offices.

If the Authority receives a declaration of intent from anyone else (or, for whatever reason, does not receive one from Valleys Radio), the licence will then be formally re-advertised, with a closing date for applications (to be specified at the time of re-advertisement) in April 2003. If the Authority proceeds with a full re-advertisement, it will be open to anyone (i.e. not confined to those who submitted declarations of intent) to apply.

Further details of this procedure may be obtained, on written request, from the Authority's Director of Development, at Holbrook House, 14 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5DG.

The Authority welcomes views from the public about the local radio needs of listeners in this licence area, the extent to which these are met by the existing Valleys Radio service, and the type of programme service required in future. These should be sent to the above address.

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS

The Radio Authority is responsible for licensing and regulating Independent Radio in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996. It plans frequencies, awards licences, regulates programming and advertising, and plays an active role in the discussion and formulation of policies which affect the Independent Radio industry and its listeners.

Contact:
Press enquiries:
Tel: 020 7887 4292 / 020 7887 4290
Out of hours tel: 07770 375283
Public enquiries:
Tel: 020 7887 4294

Revised: November 07, 2002