Ofcom criticised by radio industry

Commercial broadcaster UKRD's chief executive has hit out at the media regulator Ofcom for failing to help the UK commercial radio industry.

Last September, UKRD became the first commercial broadcaster to hand back its FM licence to Ofcom, when it closed Star 107.9 in Stroud, Gloucestershire. At the time it blamed Ofcom's lack of flexibilty in the way its licence could be used, resulting in the station failing to operate profitably.

Chief executive William Rogers, speaking at the Westminster Media Forum, said: "It's like the lights are on at Ofcom but no-one is home. Acknowledging the difficulties, recognising the issues and delivering some interesting options and suggestions is only of any use if there is a will, a cultural desire, to act."

Others attending the forum commented that though Ofcom's 'The Future of Radio' report acknowledged what changes were needed to assist the commercial radio industry, there was "no sense of urgency" in implementing them.