Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether an international media company which has bought a local commercial radio station, which has subsequently closed its local headquarters, is in breach of the commercial radio licence that was awarded to that local station by Ofcom.

The local programming and content requirements for holders of local analogue commercial radio licenses (whether the holder is ultimately owned by an international media organisation or not) are set by Ofcom under the legislative framework – primarily the Broadcasting Act 1990 and the Communications Act 2003. Changes to legislation introduced by the previous Government in March 2010 gave local commercial stations the ability to network local programming within defined editorial areas for the first time.

Under section 314 of the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom is required to produce and keep up to date localness guidance for local analogue radio license holders to follow in complying with their local programming and content requirements. In 2018, Ofcom consulted on changes to the localness guidance following research on listener attitudes. Ofcom’s impact assessment covered the potential impacts on radio listeners and the industry.

Compliance with licence requirements is a matter Ofcom, the independent regulator.