Statement: Local news and information on analogue commercial radio

Statement published 25 February 2026

The Media Act 2024 changed, by amending the Broadcasting Act 1990 and the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom’s duties in relation to the regulation of local analogue commercial radio.

In particular, it gave Ofcom a new duty to include appropriate new conditions in these stations’ licences, requiring them to broadcast local news and information regularly, including “locally-gathered” news. It also gave us a new duty to consult on, draw up, and publish guidance on how licensees may comply with the new conditions.

We consulted between April and July 2025 on our proposals to implement the new requirements, and on the guidance we are required to publish. Our proposals and draft guidance were developed taking into account the important role that local news and information play in society, and recognised that local analogue commercial radio remains a key way for people to access local news and information.

Taking account of all the consultation responses, we have decided that:

• All local analogue commercial radio stations, apart from those with a very low turnover (under £50,000), must broadcast local news at least hourly during daytime weekdays (06.00 to 19.00) and at least three times during peak time weekends and bank holidays (07.00 to 12.00).
• This local news must consist of or include some news which has been locally-gathered by journalists physically present in the relevant areas. We will not specify how much local news must be locally-gathered or how frequently it should be broadcast.
• Stations with a very low turnover (under £50,000) must broadcast local news three times during peak time weekday mornings (06.00 to 10.00) and peak time weekday afternoons (16.00 to 19.00). They will not be required to broadcast local news on the weekends or bank holidays, or include news which has been locally-gathered.
• All local analogue commercial radio stations must broadcast local information regularly throughout daytime weekdays (06.00 to 19.00) and at peak times (07.00 to 12.00) on weekends and bank holidays.
• Licensees must keep a public file which is available online and contains information about the licensee’s local news and information requirements and how it complies with them.
• Where a licensee has not previously been required to provide local news, they will have two years before the new requirements come into force. All other licensees will have one year.

We will soon be writing to Licensees directly with the proposed variations to their licences, which they will have the opportunity to make representations about before final decisions about variations to individual licences are made.

The final Guidance is below.