Radio station threatens legal action in bid to save its licence
Radio Kilkenny is challenging the Broadcast Commission decision to issue its licence to a new business consortium after 12 years on the air.
The public is also rallying together tonightin a finalbid to save the station. Hundreds are expected at the meeting at Kilkenny's Springhill Hotel at 8pm, including local councillors, clergy and members of the public.
Radio Kilkenny employs 21 people but lost its licence to the new group headed up by former director of the station, John Purcell, as well as film director, Jim Sheridan and local potter, Nicholas Mosse.
The board of directors of Radio Kilkenny have vowed to they will take their protest to the steps of the Dáil and the door of the Broadcast Commission, if necessary.
Radio Kilkenny is set to go off the air when Kilkenny Carlow Local Radio consortium takes over in October of next year. But those heading the new group have dismissed claims that it will be the end of community radioThe news has stunned Radio Kilkenny board chairman, Joe Reidy. He said it was incredible that a station owned by the people of Kilkenny was going to lose its license. "We are totally shattered and in a state of shock at this news. We are the only community radio station in Ireland that has been a huge commercial success.
"We are seeking legal advice in a bid to save our station. We got our community licence through people power. And we will use people power to reverse this. Our submission stood up on financial grounds and listenership."
The decision has been made in terms of allocation of the licence, the broadcasting commission said. "The whole process of application was very open and transparent and an oral hearing was heard. It was a difficult decision as the standard of applications was so high. The full report will be with the unsuccessful applicants sooner rather than later," a BCI spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the board and shareholders of CK Broadcasting Limited were delighted with the decision of the BCI to accept their application for a licence to operate a radio licence for the new Carlow Kilkenny franchise.
The new stationwill be calledKCLR heart of the two counties.
