Local commercial radio will come under the spotlight as MSPs on the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee continue their scrutiny of the issue at a meeting this week.
In October 2018 the regulations defining localness in local commercial radio were changed by the regulator OFCOM. As a result, the minimum amount of locally produced programming was reduced from 43 hours per week to 15 hours.
Following on from this change, Global Radio recently announced they were altering their programming schedule in Scotland. Global is the largest commercial radio comapny in the UK – it’s brands include Heart, Capital, Capital XTRA, Classic FM, Smooth, LBC, Radio X and Gold – and it’s broadcast to 25.2 million listeners every week ‘from every area and to every demographic’. The Committee questioned them in March as to why they decided to reduce their programming in Scotland and the impact it would have on their listeners.
The committee will continue its inquiry on Thursday when they hear from from OFCOM, DC Thomson and Bauer Radio.
Convener of the Committee Joan McAlpine MSP said: “It is so important that Scotland has a thriving local radio broadcasting network with investment in programming here in Scotland.
“Bauer Radio and DC Thomson are two significant broadcasters in Scotland and given the changes announced by Global Radio, the Committee is keen to hear from them what the impact might be on their respective channels, given the recent changes announced by OFCOM”.
You can Watch the Committee live on Thursday 16 May. Find further details.
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