82/03

3 July 2003



Radio Authority publishes assessment of local licence award for Helensburgh

The Radio Authority has today (3 July) published the details of its assessment of the local licence award for a service for Helensburgh, in Argyll & Bute. The Authority awarded the licence to Castle Rock FM Dumbarton Ltd. on 12 June 2003.

A copy of the full assessment is attached.

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.

 

LOCAL LICENCE AWARD: HELENSBURGH

ASSESSMENT OF SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION

BY CASTLE ROCK FM

Applications for a licence to serve the town of Helensburgh, in Argyll & Bute, and the surrounding area were invited on 10 January 2003. By the closing date of 15 April 2003, two applications had been received, from:

Castle Rock FM Dumbarton Ltd.

Peninsula FM Ltd.

Castle Rock FM Dumbarton Ltd. was awarded the licence on 12 June 2003, to run for eight years from the date that the service commences broadcasting.

Assessment of the successful application

Castle Rock FM Dumbarton Ltd. is the licensee for Dumbarton, whose existing coverage area is contiguous with Helensburgh. The service will be provided from Castle Rock's existing studio. Members considered that the opportunity to operate and market the two adjoining areas would substantially contribute to the viability of a station serving Helensburgh. The group is able to rely on an experienced management team and has demonstrated sound funding arrangements and a proven record of cost control.

Castle Rock plans to provide a full-service local radio station for the people of Dumbarton and Helensburgh, primarily targeting an audience aged between 25 and 54. The service will offer programming consisting of 20 - 35% speech content during weekday daytimes. Although the majority of the programming will be an extension of Castle Rock's Dumbarton service, the station's output already includes some programming relevant to Helensburgh which it has committed to continue, and Castle Rock will also broadcast a magazine-style programme, 'Rosneath Rendezvous', to Helensburgh alone. Local news bulletins will be provided throughout the programme schedule, and the group will recruit a journalist specifically to source news from the Helensburgh area. Castle Rock has committed to broadcast four daily sports reports at peak listening times, and an hour-long 100% speech sports show on Friday evenings, the content of which will be extended to include sailing coverage to cater for the popularity of the sport in the Helensburgh area. Daytime music output currently consists of "classic oldies and today's better music mix", which includes material from the sixties and some 'easy listening'. Three specialist music shows are broadcast in the evenings: ‘New Horizons’ (a showcase for local 'new rock' acts), 'The Vinyl Frontier' (60s and 70s music) and a smooth jazz show. Members considered that the programme proposals were realistic and achievable, although they would encourage the establishment of links with the media community of Helensburgh in order to strengthen the programming contribution from that area.

The local support demonstrated in Castle Rock's favour was primarily from Helensburgh-based businesses, some of which were attracted by the potential for advertisers to reach listeners in both communities.

Background to award

When licensing Independent Radio services, it is the duty of the Authority under the Broadcasting Act 1990 ("the Act") to do all that it can to secure the provision within the UK of a range and diversity of local services (section 85(2)(b) of the Act). Furthermore, under section 85(3) of the Act the Authority must discharge its functions in the manner which it considers is best calculated to:

(a) facilitate the provision of licensed services which (taken as a whole) are of high quality and offer a wide range of programmes calculated to appeal to a variety of tastes and interests; and

(b) ensure fair and effective competition in the provision of such services and services connected with them.

Under section 105 of the Act, the matters to which the Authority shall have regard when determining whether, or to whom, to grant a local licence are:

(a) the ability of each applicant to maintain the proposed service throughout the licence period;

(b) the extent to which the proposed service would cater for the tastes and interests of persons living in the area or locality for which the service would be provided, and, where it is proposed to cater for any particular tastes and interests of such persons, the extent to which the service would so cater;

(c) the extent to which the proposed service would broaden the range of programmes available by way of local services to persons living in the relevant area or locality, and, in particular, the extent to which the service would cater for tastes and interests which are different from those already catered for by existing local services in the area; and

(d) the extent to which any application is supported by persons living in that area.

While the requirements of sections 85 and 105 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 will invariably form the basis of all awards, each licence award will be made on an individual basis, with regard to the factors which, in the view of the Authority, are particularly relevant to that case.

When it advertised the availability of a local licence for Helensburgh the Authority invited public comment on the local radio needs of listeners in this area, and the type of programme service required. Copies of the non-confidential sections of the applications were made available for public scrutiny in the reference section of the public library in Helensburgh and at the Radio Authority's offices in London. The Authority took all public comments into account when reaching its decision.

The applications were considered carefully by the Authority in accordance with the Act, and as against the advertised criteria set out in the Authority’s Notes of Guidance for Local Licence Applicants and the coverage brief for this licence, issued at the date of the licence advertisement.

Contact:
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Public enquiries:
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