Government announces new £3m fund for radio content

The Government has announced a new £3m fund for radio content to support a broad range of public service output on a wider spectrum of UK radio stations.

The Audio Content Fund will create new opportunities for commercial broadcasters and producers to make content that adds to listener choice, and will be a chance to hear from new voices and increase diversity representation, both on and off air.

The Audio Content Fund has come about as a result of campaigning by Radiocentre and AudioUK, following a Government proposal to create a three-year Contestable Fund of up to £60 million to support UK public service content.   Radiocentre and AudioUK pressed for up to £3m of this funding to be made available for radio content as well as for television.

The fund will open formally from April 2019.  All applications will be judged against a set of agreed criteria by an independent panel and will require a guarantee of broadcast from an Ofcom-licensed radio station.

Detailed guidance will be available in due course.  In the meantime more information is available at www.audiocontentfund.org.uk

Siobhan Kenny, Chief Executive at Radiocentre, said:

“Commercial radio stations are always looking at new ways to serve their listeners, but sometimes the financial reality makes it difficult to do everything they would like. The Audio Content Fund has the potential to provide a significant boost in public service content for audiences, as well as a great opportunity for commercial radio broadcasters to broaden the range of output they provide.”