National Analogue Licences to be Renewed

Ofcom has published a statement confirming that the UK’s three national analogue FM and AM commercial radio licences will qualify for a further five-year renewal.

Radiocentre has pushed for changes on this issue and last year the Legislative Reform (Further Renewal of Radio Licences) Order 2015 was passed in Parliament. The legislation makes amendments to the provision on radio licensing originally laid out in the Broadcasting Act 1990.

The UK’s three national analogue (FM and AM) commercial radio licences (currently held by Classic FM, Absolute Radio and talkSPORT) are all due to expire in 2018. The licences were originally awarded by an auction process, and the licensees are required to make annual financial payments to the Treasury.