Review of local radio policy

THE Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) has announced a review that could see a change in the requirement for local radio stations to carry a minimum level of news content. The policy review is the BCI’s first regarding news and current affairs since 2000.

Speaking about the launch of the consultation process, BCI chief executive Michael O’Keeffe said: “This is an important consultation process for the BCI, as it marks the first review of policy regarding news and current affairs since 2000.

“We believe that the review is timely, particularly in light of our intention to license additional radio services and a renewed commitment to diversity for listeners. We look forward to hearing the views of all stakeholders and members of the public.”

The public consultation process focuses on BCI policy for statutory news and current affairs requirements for independent radio stations.

The BCI is required by law to ensure that stations broadcast a minimum level of news and current affairs programming across the broadcast day.

The policy review is being undertaken in light of the commission’s plans to license further radio stations and in the context of its key policy objective of guaranteeing a diversity of radio services to listeners.

The commission’s policy regarding news and current affairs has been to allow a derogation from provision of news and current affairs between 1am and 7am.

The consultation document seeks views in a number of key areas. It asks whether a policy providing more flexibility in news and current affairs derogation would result in a greater range of radio services and a greater variety of news sources for listeners.

The commission has, through the consultation document, identified a range of factors it proposes to use in assessing a station’s eligibility for derogation and has identified four different options in relation to the types of derogation that might subsequently be awarded.

The closing date for receipt of submissions to the process is July 1.