Radio

John Reynolds, mediaweek.co.uk, 04 November 2009, 1:00pm

UTV maintains stance against Government's radio switchover plans

LONDON - UTV Media, owner of TalkSport, has restated its opposition to the Government's planned digital radio switchover in 2015, claiming it "sidelines those stations that are more closely connected to their local communities".

Digital radio: Government plans for switchover rapped by UTV

The Government's 2015 switchover plans have caused a division within the radio industry, with UTV Media, UKRD and The Local Radio Company opposed to the plans.

UKRD claims the Government's planned switch-off of analogue radio is an "Alice in Wonderland approach".

UTV Media has today (4 November) responded to Ofcom's latest consultation on commercial radio and urged the regulator to shift its focus to ensuring the future developments of smaller local commercial radio stations.

The response also sets out UTV's opposition to extending the analogue licences held by TalkSport, Classic FM and Absolute Radio.

Scott Taunton, managing director UTV Media, said: "As well as proposing an AM and FM switch-off plan that lacks support from listeners, Digital Britain places a huge question mark against more than 120 stations that are currently without a clear digital future.

"These stations need clarity about their future licensing, regulation and distribution, not the prospect of six years in limbo while the Government pursues a fanciful DAB migration plan driven by the commercial agendas of some of the larger groups."