BCI RELEASES DETAILS OF APPLICATIONS FOR 'CHRISTIAN AND RELIGIOUS' RADIO LICENSE

BCI RELEASES DETAILS OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED FOR NEW QUASI-NATIONAL CHRISTIAN AND RELIGIOUS BROADCASTING SERVICE -- 13th November 2006


BCI RECEIVES FIVE APPLICATIONS FOR NEW QUASI-NATIONAL CHRISTIAN AND RELIGIOUS SERVICE -- 25th October 2006


BCI INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR QUASI-NATIONAL CHRISTIAN AND RELIGIOUS SOUND BROADCASTING SERVICE -- 26th July 06


Previous Press Release on 8th September 2005


Previous Press Release on 27th July 2005


FOR RELEASE 8TH SEPTEMBER 2005


BCI ANNOUNCES COMMERCIAL RADIO LICENSING PLAN


The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) has today (September 8th) announced details of a three year plan for the licensing of additional commercial radio services. The plan was finalised at the Board’s meeting on Monday September 5th last. The further services planned are based on expressions of interest received earlier in the summer.

Subject to the approval of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the Commission will seek applications for a range of services throughout the country. These will include three new regional youth services, a quasi-national speech-based service, a national Christian service on AM with FM relays, a classic rock service for Dublin and the commuter belt, a multi-city classic gold/smooth service (single contract), and Country and Irish music services for the North-East and Mid-West regions.

Commenting on the decisions reached, Chief Executive of the BCI, Michael O’Keeffe said, “the next three years will see significant changes in the Irish broadcasting landscape with the licensing of a range of additional services. The Commission believes that the decisions reached with regard to further licensing will add to the diversity of services available for all ages and tastes throughout the country”. A full list of the new services proposed and time-frames for licensing of these services can be found on the attached table.

-Ends-

Media Queries to:

Michael Keane or Aoife Clabby Fleishman-Hillard BCI tel. 01-6188439 or 086 2452938 tel. 01 6441200



Back to Top of Press Release for 8th September 2005


EARLIER PRESS RELEASE 27TH JULY 05


BCI ANNOUNCES PRELIMINARY DECISIONS ON COMMERCIAL RADIO LICENSING


The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) has today (July 27th) announced preliminary decisions regarding the further licensing of commercial radio services, following its recent board meeting. The following broad principles have been agreed.

A range of regional youth-driven services will be advertised. The number of these services and the specific make-up of the franchise areas will be given further consideration at the September meeting of the board. Special emphasis will be placed on maximising population coverage in this regard.

The Commission has agreed to the advertisement of a quasi-national speech driven service.

It has also been agreed that applications will be sought for a national religious service on AM with FM low-power relays.

A range of other services for which expressions of interest have been received require further analysis and will be considered again at the September meeting of the Board.

While no definitive decisions have yet been reached regarding the timeframes for advertising licences, the Commission intends to give priority to the development of the regional, quasi-national and national religious services, with further licensing being planned subsequent to this.

A detailed three-year licensing plan will be presented to the Board of the BCI for their approval in September after which time full details will be publicised.

-Ends-

Media Queries to:

Catherine Logan or Aoife Clabby Fleishman-Hillard BCI 086 8114785/01 6188462 01 6441200