Ofcom has today published its final decisions on the BBC’s plans to launch four new DAB+ stations and extend the hours of Radio 5 Sports Extra.
The BBC’s proposals
In November last year, the BBC proposed to launch four new DAB+ stations: Radio 1 Dance, Radio 1 Anthems, a Radio 2 extension, and Radio 3 Unwind. It also published proposals to expand the broadcasting hours of Radio 5 Sports Extra.
In line with the process set out in the BBC Charter and Agreement, the BBC and then Ofcom are required to consider the effects on competition of ‘material’ changes to its TV, radio and online public services.
We judged that these proposals were ‘material’, as did the BBC, and therefore carried out full Competition Assessments. These examine whether the public value of the proposals justify the likely impact on fair and effective competition.
In April, we provisionally concluded that the BBC could proceed with plans for the Radio 1 Dance, Radio 1 Anthems and Radio 3 Unwind stations, but not its proposals for a BBC Radio 2 spin-off or an expansion of the hours of Radio 5 Sports Extra.
Our decisions
Following a consultation on our provisional conclusions, we have today published our final decisions.
In summary:
- Radio 1 Dance, Radio 1 Anthems and Radio 3 Unwind can proceed. We found these stations would have a limited impact on fair and effective competition, which would be justified by the public value of the proposals.
- The BBC Radio 2 extension, which would broadcast music and archive content from the 50s, 60s and 70s, cannot go ahead. Although the proposal could provide some public value, this would not be enough to justify the significant impact on fair and effective competition, which includes the potential to reduce investment incentives for commercial radio operators.
- The BBC’s plans to extend the broadcasting hours of Radio 5 Sports Extra may not proceed. While it could offer some public value, for example by broadening the amount of sport on linear radio, this wouldn’t be sufficient to justify the significant impact it would have on fair and effective competition, in particular on the talkSPORT network.
Separately, we have also decided that the three new services that may proceed will be covered by existing operating licence conditions, and we will not introduce new conditions for these services at this time.