Radio Authority awards new local licence for Carmarthenshire

99/03

11 September 2003

Radio Authority awards new local licence for Carmarthenshire

The Radio Authority has announced today (11 September) that, after considering the proposals submitted by the sole remaining applicant, it is offering the new Independent Local Radio licence on the FM waveband to serve as much of the county of Carmarthenshire, in Wales, as proves to be technically feasible to:

RADIO CARMARTHENSHIRE / RADIO SIR GÂR (RADIO CARMARTHENSHIRE LTD.) - P.O. Box 2, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, SA17 5ZA (contact: Keri Jones, 01834 869384; or Jason Bryant, 07904 587040); the dedicated county station playing a positive and active role in its daily life, with a full service of local news, issues and information, in English and Welsh, alongside a mix of popular hits.

The licence will come into effect as soon as Radio Carmarthenshire begins broadcasting.

The Authority will shortly be publishing its assessment of Radio Carmarthenshire's application.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Radio Authority originally received two applications for the Carmarthenshire licence. However, one applicant, Carmarthenshire Sound Ltd., withdrew its application in July 2003. See news release 87/03 for further details.
Following the award of a new local radio licence today for Carmarthenshire, there is now a total of 876.67 points in the radio ownership system (subject to review once transmission proposals have been finalised).
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.
At the end of this year, the Radio Authority will cease to exist, and its responsibilities for licensing and regulating Independent Radio will pass to Ofcom, the new converged regulator for the communications sector. See the Ofcom transitional website at www.ofcom.org.uk for more details.

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