[cma-l] Six community radio licence awards in the south east of England: July 2016

[CMA-L]

Ofcom awarded six community radio licences in July 2016. The licences are
for services in the south east England region (outside the M25). These
awards bring the licensing decisions for this region to a close.

*Applicants awarded a licence*

Ofcom has made a licence award to each of the following:

*1 Brighton FM (Alias Music and Community Projects CIC), Brighton and Hove*
1 Brighton FM will be a service for the general population of Brighton and
Hove, and will feature a broad range of specialist music and community
shows. Ofcom noted the group’s experience of broadcasting via the internet
and the experience of individuals involved (such as in business, marketing,
music, audio and website production), and was satisfied that it had
demonstrated its ability to maintain the service. The group has a strong
volunteer base, and partnerships in place with various community groups
which participate in programme-making. Ofcom considered that 1 Brighton FM
had built on these to propose workable arrangements for access to the
station by the target community. It also has accountability proposals that
the decision-makers were satisfied would allow volunteers and listeners to
influence the direction of the station.

*Gaydio (Gaydio Brighton Ltd), Brighton and Hove*
Gaydio will broadcast a service for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) community in Brighton and Hove. Ofcom noted that members
of the applicant group have experience from a range of areas including
radio broadcasting, journalism, business and management, and that the
applicant company is allied with another company broadcasting to the same
target community elsewhere in the UK. As a result, Ofcom was satisfied it
could maintain the proposed new service. Ofcom considered that the service
would broaden choice in relation to existing radio services available in
the area by super-serving the LGBT community with a service including
contemporary dance and pop music alongside a relatively high volume of
LGBT-targeted speech content.

*Platform B (Platform B), Brighton and Hove*
Platform B will be a music-led station for young adults (aged 16-25 years
old) in Brighton and Hove. Ofcom noted that members of the applicant group
have experience of youth work, music, local broadcasting, finance, IT and
digital media, which Ofcom considered would help enable Platform B to
maintain its proposed service. The applicant will co-opt two people aged
under-25 on to its board, and encourage volunteers to become members of the
licence-holding company. It proposes a range of opportunities for access to
the station, and also of collecting feedback from the target community to
inform its decision-making. Ofcom regarded these plans as appropriate for
ensuring accountability to the target community and allowing access to the
station for that community.

*Radio Cabin (Herne Bay’s Radio Cabin), Herne Bay, North East Kent*
Radio Cabin will be a radio station for the general population of Herne
Bay, north east Kent. The applicant is a registered charity, formed many
years ago, and has gained experience through hospital radio broadcasts in
the past, as well as broadcasting via the internet and on temporary FM
licences. Ofcom felt that this experience would help enable the applicant
to maintain the service. In Ofcom’s view, the group’s already established
community links would help it to promote social cohesion by involving the
target community. Ofcom noted that the applicant group already has a
volunteer base, as well as a training team, and is experienced in training
volunteers. Training will be available to both individuals and community
groups.

*Sheppey FM (Sheppey Matters), Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey*
Sheppey FM will be a station for adults and young people with physical or
mental health disabilities in Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey. The applicant,
Sheppey Matters, is a registered charity with experience of running
outreach projects from its base at Sheppey Healthy Living Centre. As a
result, the decision-makers considered that it had the experience and
funding necessary to set up the proposed low-cost service and maintain it
(1a).  Ofcom noted that the applicant works with many partner organisations
in the area.  It has experience of delivering training, which is a central
part of Sheppey FM’s social gain proposals, as well as other benefits, such
as promoting healthy living. As a result Ofcom was satisfied that the
applicant would deliver social gain to its target community (1e).

*Miskin Radio (North Kent College), North West Kent Gateway*
Miskin Radio will be a community radio service on the AM (medium wave) band
for people living in the Gravesham, Dartford and Bexley areas. The
applicant is North Kent College, and the station will be run by a separate
radio members committee, reporting to the College’s senior leadership team.
The service will operate from studios within the college, and Ofcom was
satisfied that the service could be maintained. The applicant demonstrated
a good level of support for the service, as well as links with local
bodies.  Ofcom noted the applicant’s proposals for training, including
introductory courses, as well as opportunities to train in different
locations across the area.

These services will be licensed for a period of five years from the date of
their launch. Miskin Radio will be licensed to broadcast on AM, as there
was not a suitable FM frequency available for use by this service once
decisions in relation to other nearby applicants had been taken into
account, and because the applicant had indicated its willingness to accept
AM if FM was not available. The remaining five services will be licensed to
broadcast on FM.

Ofcom was satisfied that none of the new services would prejudice unduly
the economic viability of any local analogue commercial radio service
(section 105(3) of the BA 1990).

\\

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