Absolute AM licence revoked

[Woody]

Ofcom have revoked Absolute AM licence as of 26th Jan 2023.

Full notification:

https://tinyurl.com/2v7767dd

[MB]

Post by Woody
Ofcom have revoked Absolute AM licence as of 26th Jan 2023.
https://tinyurl.com/2v7767dd

Radio Today
"Ofcom adds: “Depending on our decision, we may undertake a further
process to determine any financial penalty that may apply.”"

[Andy Burns]

Post by MB
"Ofcom adds: “Depending on our decision, we may undertake a further
process to determine any financial penalty that may apply.”"

Shame they can't take away *all* of Bauer's "absolute family" licences,
but I doubt they have a mechanism to do that ...

[Mark Carver]

Post by MB

Post by Woody
Ofcom have revoked Absolute AM licence as of 26th Jan 2023.
https://tinyurl.com/2v7767dd

Radio Today
"Ofcom adds: “Depending on our decision, we may undertake a further
process to determine any financial penalty that may apply.”"

It'll be just be one Quid I suspect. The licence dates back to the early
1990s, before DAB and streaming that 99% of their audience now use.

It would have been lunacy (and not terribly green) to carry on with 1215
AM. Even a blinkered dogmatic quango such as Ofcom can see that. they
are just going through the motions with this.

[Theo]

Post by Mark Carver
It'll be just be one Quid I suspect. The licence dates back to the early
1990s, before DAB and streaming that 99% of their audience now use.
It would have been lunacy (and not terribly green) to carry on with 1215
AM. Even a blinkered dogmatic quango such as Ofcom can see that. they
are just going through the motions with this.

It's quite surprising that Bauer renewed for a 10 year licence less than two
years ago. If the writing was on the wall then, I'm surprised they agreed
to those conditions. I can't see their decision to shut down has come
entirely out of the blue.

Or are licensees obliged to take Ofcom's terms - ie 10 years or nothing?

Theo

[Mark Carver]

Post by Theo

Post by Mark Carver
It'll be just be one Quid I suspect. The licence dates back to the early
1990s, before DAB and streaming that 99% of their audience now use.
It would have been lunacy (and not terribly green) to carry on with 1215
AM. Even a blinkered dogmatic quango such as Ofcom can see that. they
are just going through the motions with this.

It's quite surprising that Bauer renewed for a 10 year licence less than two
years ago. If the writing was on the wall then, I'm surprised they agreed
to those conditions. I can't see their decision to shut down has come
entirely out of the blue.
Or are licensees obliged to take Ofcom's terms - ie 10 years or nothing?

I think so, the INR licences are baked into the 1990 Broadcasting Act,
which for them is still applicable ?

Most likely Bauer took Ofcom out to lunch and arranged for all this to
happen. I'm sure the financial 'penality' will be a trivial amount, just
enough to tick the regulatory boxes.

[charles]

Post by Theo

Post by Mark Carver
It'll be just be one Quid I suspect. The licence dates back to the
early 1990s, before DAB and streaming that 99% of their audience now
use.
It would have been lunacy (and not terribly green) to carry on with
1215 AM. Even a blinkered dogmatic quango such as Ofcom can see that.
they are just going through the motions with this.

It's quite surprising that Bauer renewed for a 10 year licence less than
two years ago. If the writing was on the wall then, I'm surprised they
agreed to those conditions. I can't see their decision to shut down has
come entirely out of the blue.

They didn't know the cost of electricity was going to rocket.

[Scott]

On Sun, 29 Jan 2023 13:55:45 +0000, Mark Carver

Post by Mark Carver

Post by MB

Post by Woody
Ofcom have revoked Absolute AM licence as of 26th Jan 2023.
https://tinyurl.com/2v7767dd

Radio Today
"Ofcom adds: “Depending on our decision, we may undertake a further
process to determine any financial penalty that may apply.”"

It'll be just be one Quid I suspect. The licence dates back to the early
1990s, before DAB and streaming that 99% of their audience now use.
It would have been lunacy (and not terribly green) to carry on with 1215
AM. Even a blinkered dogmatic quango such as Ofcom can see that. they
are just going through the motions with this.

Plus the fact the BBC will almost certainly do the same and Ofcom
won't want a situation where it looks as though it's one rule for the
BBC and one rule for everyone else.

[Scott]

Post by Woody
Ofcom have revoked Absolute AM licence as of 26th Jan 2023.
https://tinyurl.com/2v7767dd

No they haven't. They have set out a preliminary view with a final
decision to follow.

[Brian Gregory]

Post by Scott

Post by Woody
Ofcom have revoked Absolute AM licence as of 26th Jan 2023.
https://tinyurl.com/2v7767dd

No they haven't. They have set out a preliminary view with a final
decision to follow.

Correct.

[Andy Burns]

Post by Woody
Ofcom have revoked Absolute AM licence as of 26th Jan 2023.

£25k slap on the wrist for ceasing the service

<https://ofcom.org.uk/news-centre/2023/ofcom-fines-bauer-radio-25000>

[Brian Gregory]

Post by Andy Burns

Post by Woody
Ofcom have revoked Absolute AM licence as of 26th Jan 2023.

£25k slap on the wrist for ceasing the service
<https://ofcom.org.uk/news-centre/2023/ofcom-fines-bauer-radio-25000>

A slap on the wrist with a feather.