Radio broadcast update – March 2024

Newry and the Mournes FM

Camlough & Kilkeel, Newcastle, Armagh

Camlough & Kilkeel, Newcastle, Armagh AND Downpatrick

Increase in licensed area

An extension via a relay to serve Downpatrick was AGREED.

The subsequent increase in adult population and coverage was not considered to be significant.

Exceptional circumstances

As the proposal to extend the service into Downpatrick was not considered to be significant, Ofcom did not need to consider whether exceptional circumstances were required in order to justify this proposal.

Other considerations

• The application demonstrated that if the proposal was approved, the Licensee would commit to ensuring that localness is prevalent in the extended area. This would be achieved through a strong local presence by utilising their outside broadcast fleet and street teams promoting local events in the area.
• In addition to this, the application highlighted that the existing content broadcast on the service would be relevant to the audience in the extended area, which is focused on uplifting and entertaining programming interspersed with regional local content across their network focused on addressing local issues, educating the public and providing diverse and different content outside the mainstream approach.
• Ofcom notes that Downpatrick now forms part of the same local authority area as Newry (and Kilkeel). This position has changed since the licence was originally awarded and serves to demonstrate the affinities and relationships between the existing licensed area and the proposed extended area.
• In addition to this, the Licensee has highlighted the popularity of county and college Gaelic Games in both areas, which creates a strong affinity between the existing licensed area and the proposed extension, with spectators and players regularly travelling between the two areas. Further, residents regularly travel/commute between the two areas for school and work and this proposal will ensure the continuity of service between the two areas.
• The Licensee also made reference to the economic climate, and how this extension would allow the service to offer an excellent affordable platform to promote/advertise local businesses, but also support Q Radio broaden their potential client base in the extended area.
• Ofcom considered that this proposal met with our statutory duties. The Licensee proposed to reuse the existing frequency currently used by the service to broadcast in Newry, therefore maximising spectrum efficiency, while approving the extension of this service will increase the range and choice available to residents in Downpatrick and appeal to a variety of tastes and interests and ensure a plurality of providers in this area.
• We considered the impact this may have on other local services currently broadcasting in Downpatrick, but note that having published the application from Q Radio on the Ofcom website for a period of one month, we received no representations from any group opposing this proposal.