Part 3

Television and Radio Services ETC
Chapter 3

Regulatory Structure for Independent Radio Services

Radio licensable content services

Abolition of separate licences for certain sound services
251
1
The authorisations that are to be capable of being granted on or after the radio transfer date by or under a licence under Part 3 of the 1990 Act do not include the authorisation of the provision, as such, of—
a
any satellite service (as defined, disregarding its repeal by this Act, in section 84(2)(b) of the 1990 Act); or
b
any licensable sound programme service (as defined, disregarding its repeal by this Act, in section 112(1) of that Act).
2
Subsection (1) does not affect OFCOM’s power, by means of a licence authorising the provision of a service falling within section 245(1), to authorise the provision of so much of any formerly regulated radio service as is comprised in the licensed service.
3
So much of any relevant existing licence as authorises the provision of a service which consists in or includes a radio licensable content service—
a
shall have effect, on and after the radio transfer date, as a licence under Part 3 of the 1990 Act authorising the provision of the radio licensable content service comprised in the licensed service;
b
shall so have effect as a licence which, notwithstanding its terms and conditions, is to continue in force until such time as it is surrendered or is revoked in accordance with provisions of the 1990 Act; and
c
shall otherwise have effect as a licence on the same terms and conditions as those on which it had effect immediately before the radio transfer date.
4
It shall be the duty of OFCOM to exercise their power under section 86 of the 1990 Act to make such variations of any licence having effect in accordance with subsection (3) of this section as (after complying with subsection (5)(b) of that section) they consider appropriate for the purpose of performing their duty under section 263 of this Act.
5
In this section—
- “formerly regulated radio service” means a service mentioned in subsection (1); and
- “relevant existing licence” means any licence which—
  1. was granted by the Radio Authority under Part 3 of the 1990 Act before the radio transfer date; and
  2. is in force immediately before the radio transfer date as a licence authorising the provision of a formerly regulated service.
Word in Pt. 3 inserted (8.6.2010) by Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24), ss. 22(4), 47(1)
Pt. 3 applied (with modifications) (14.2.2012) by The Local Digital Television Programme Services Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/292), arts. 1, 4, Sch. Pt. 2
S. 251 in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
Pt. 3: amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 2012/292, Sch. Pt. 2 (12.7.2012) by The Broadcasting (Local Digital Television Programme Services and Independent Productions) (Amendment) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/1842), art. 4
Pt. 3 modified (1.4.2025) by The Community Radio Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/160), arts. 1(2), 4, Sch. (with art. 8)