Row erupts over licence issues at radio station

ANOTHER row has developed between a radio station which has lost its licence and the Broadcast Commission of Ireland (BCI).

Radio Kilkenny announced to staff this week that it was closing at the end of this month with the loss of 30 jobs.

Last night, station boss Joe Reidy accused the BCI of leaving the station in limbo and failing to understand the commercial reality of running a station.

Radio Kilkenny was granted a two-month extension to its licence in September but had sought a further reprieve of one month. A consortium, headed by a former director of the station, won the new licence for the region last year.

The BCI said it was to issue its decision on the extension today.

The commission has accused Radio Kilkenny of jumping the gun by telling its staff on Tuesday that the station was to close within the next three weeks.

BCI chief executive Michael O’Keeffe said he had agreed to come back to the station by early November. And he said he was surprised to get a letter from the station in the past few days, indicating that it was closing down.

“I didn’t realise when we left matters that I would get a letter saying that the station was closing down. It really is a matter for Radio Kilkenny and if they don’t wish to proceed with an extension, then that is it.

“I will be sending a letter this evening outlining our position. It is a matter then for the board to respond,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

Board chairman Joe Reidy said the BCI has no idea of the commercial reality of running a radio station.

He also said it was impossible to continue without knowing where they stood.

“We run a commercial station and the commission’s attitude to this shows a total lack of knowledge of the commercial realities out there. We ran at a loss in August, September and October. On two occasions we have had to give notice to our staff.

“The people at the BCI seem to think that that is nothing and that we can withdraw such notice again. I think it is absolutely abhorrent that this is the situation we find ourselves in,” he said.

Radio Kilkenny was to take the decision to grant the licence for the region to a new consortium, KCLR, to the Supreme Court. But within the past fortnight, it also dropped that action.

The prolonged delays mean that the new station has had no indication of a start date, recruitment or setting up the station.

It is unlikely that the new station will be on the air until early next year.