Reps from the UK radio industry gave evidence to a House Of Lords select committee yesterday and told the political types that British radio ownership rules were too constraining, especially when compared to rules governing the ownership of newspapers and TV stations. The Lords are currently looking into media ownership in the context of news provision.
Commenting on the issue, the boss of commercial radio body RadioCentre, Andrew Harrison, said after the hearing: "We welcome this opportunity ahead of new legislation to explain why the existing approach to radio ownership is outdated and counter-productive. Digital media have transformed the way in which news is produced and consumed, making mono-sector approaches to securing plurality unnecessary. In fact the current restrictions are stifling innovation in local radio news provision for listeners and holding back the economic health of our sector".