[cma-l] Ofcom publishes reasons for the award of three new community radio licences

[CMA-L]

Ofcom's Radio Licensing Committee ('RLC') has awarded three community
radio licences in June.

Ofcom's Radio Licensing Committee made licence awards to the following
applicants in locations in Leicester (in no particular order):

    * EAVA FM (Leicester)
    * Demon FM (Leicester)
    * Kohinoor FM (Leicester)

Each of these services will be licensed for a period of five years
from the date of their launch.

The RLC was satisfied that each group awarded a licence should be
allowed to seek up to 50% of their respective annual income from the
sale of advertising or programme/station sponsorship if they so wish.

EAVA FM (Leicester):
EAVA FM will serve the East African community in Leicester . The
station's directors have experience in broadcasting and it has secured
funding from a range of sources. The station's programming would cater
to the tastes and interests of its target community and would broaden
choice locally. By serving an underserved community and offering
training opportunities, the station will deliver social gain (1e). The
station's accountability proposals include an elected board and an
open membership scheme, access to the station by the target community
will also be helped by the station's location at the St Matthews
Community Solution Centre.

Demon FM (Leicester)
This station will serve young people in Leicester , particularly
between the ages of 16 and 30. The station has a good track-record of
short-term RSL broadcasting locally, a strong funding base and is able
to call upon a large volunteer base. Social gain provision includes
various sensible proposals for "the facilitation of discussion and the
expression of opinion" as well as for the provision of education and
training. The accountability proposals put forward by this group,
including directly elected board-level representation, are of above
average quality
.
Kohinoor FM (Leicester):
This station will serve the Panjabi speaking community of Leicester .
With a firm resource base and a financially conservative operational
cost base, this station also has useful local broadcasting experience
at board level and within its advisory committee. Programming
proposals are both appropriate for the target community and
broad-ranging, as are its social gain proposals. The station will use
a variety of methods to ensure its accountability and takes a sensible
approach to ensuring access to its facilities and for training in
their use.
Statutory requirements relating to community radio licensing

The following pages set out the statutory requirements relating to
community radio licensing, and details of the licensing process.
Further information about these, and detailed information relating to
community radio, can be found at:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/commun_radio/