Part 3

Television and Radio Services ETC
Chapter 4

Regulatory provisions

Character and coverage of radio services

Local news and information in local sound broadcasting services
314
1
A local sound broadcasting licence must contain such conditions as OFCOM consider appropriate for—
a
requiring the licensed local sound broadcasting service to include, and regularly broadcast, programmes that consist of or include local news and information, and
b
requiring that local news to consist of or include locally-gathered news.
1A
But subsection (1) does not apply in the case of a local sound broadcasting service if OFCOM consider it is appropriate for it not to apply in that case.
2
OFCOM must—
a
draw up guidance as to how they consider the providers of local sound broadcasting services may act consistently with conditions contained in licences in accordance with subsection (1); and
b
have regard to that guidance in carrying out their functions under subsection (1).
3
The guidance may be different for different descriptions of services.
4
OFCOM may revise the guidance from time to time.
5
Before drawing up or revising the guidance, OFCOM must consult—
a
such persons as appear to them to represent the interests of persons for whom local sound broadcasting services are or would be provided;
b
persons holding licences to provide local sound broadcasting services or persons appearing to represent such persons, or both; and
c
such other persons as they consider appropriate.
6
OFCOM must publish the guidance and every revision of it in such manner as they consider appropriate.
7
In this section—
...
- “local news and information”, in relation to a local sound broadcasting service, means news and information which is of particular interest—
  1. to persons living or working within the area or locality for which the service is provided;
  2. to persons living or working within a part of that area or locality; or
  3. to particular communities living or working within that area or locality or a part of it;
- “
locally-gathered
”, in relation to news broadcast on a local sound broadcasting service, means—
  1. news gathered in the coverage area of a local radio multiplex service that to a significant extent includes the coverage area of the local sound broadcasting service by persons who gather news in the course of an employment or business, or
  2. if there is no local radio multiplex service with such a coverage area, news gathered in the area or locality for which the local sound broadcasting service is provided by persons who gather news in the course of an employment or business;
and for this purpose the coverage area for a local radio multiplex service or local sound broadcasting service is the area determined by OFCOM to be the area in the United Kingdom within which the service is capable of being received at a level satisfying such technical standards as may have been laid down by them for the purposes of this section;
- ... and
- “programme” does not include an advertisement.
8
References in this section to persons living or working within an area or locality include references to persons undergoing education or training in that area or locality.
9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 263-271 amendment to earlier affecting provision SI 2003/3195 art. 6 Sch. 2 (31.3.2005) by Communications (Bailiwick of Guernsey) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/856), arts. 1(1), 2(a)(ii)
Ss. 263-271 amendment to earlier affecting provision SI 2003/3197 art. 6 Sch. 2 (31.3.2005) by Communications (Jersey) (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/855), arts. 1(1), 2(a)(ii)
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
Words in s. 314(2)(b) substituted (23.8.2024 for specified purposes, 17.10.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Media Act 2024 (c. 15), ss. 44(6)(b), 55(3)(e); S.I. 2024/858, reg. 3, Sch.; S.I. 2024/1033, reg. 3(d) (with reg. 4)
S. 314(9)-(11) omitted (23.8.2024 for specified purposes, 17.10.2024 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Media Act 2024 (c. 15), ss. 44(8), 55(3)(e); S.I. 2024/858, reg. 3, Sch.; S.I. 2024/1033, reg. 3(d) (with reg. 4)
Word in s. 314(7) omitted (23.8.2024 for specified purposes, 17.10.2024 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Media Act 2024 (c. 15), ss. 44(7)(d), 55(3)(e); S.I. 2024/858, reg. 3, Sch.; S.I. 2024/1033, reg. 3(d) (with reg. 4)
S. 314 in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
Words in s. 314(7) substituted (23.8.2024 for specified purposes, 17.10.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Media Act 2024 (c. 15), ss. 44(7)(c), 55(3)(e); S.I. 2024/858, reg. 3, Sch.; S.I. 2024/1033, reg. 3(d) (with reg. 4)
S. 314 heading substituted (23.8.2024 for specified purposes, 17.10.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Media Act 2024 (c. 15), ss. 44(3), 55(3)(e); S.I. 2024/858, reg. 3, Sch.; S.I. 2024/1033, reg. 3(d) (with reg. 4)
S. 314(1A) substituted (23.8.2024 for specified purposes, 17.10.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Media Act 2024 (c. 15), ss. 44(5), 55(3)(e); S.I. 2024/858, reg. 3, Sch.; S.I. 2024/1033, reg. 3(d) (with reg. 4)
Words in s. 314(7) omitted (23.8.2024 for specified purposes, 17.10.2024 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Media Act 2024 (c. 15), ss. 44(7)(a), 55(3)(e); S.I. 2024/858, reg. 3, Sch.; S.I. 2024/1033, reg. 3(d) (with reg. 4)
S. 314 modified (17.10.2024) by The Media Act 2024 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/1033), reg. 4
Words in s. 314(7) substituted (23.8.2024 for specified purposes, 17.10.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Media Act 2024 (c. 15), ss. 44(7)(b)(ii), 55(3)(e); S.I. 2024/858, reg. 3, Sch.; S.I. 2024/1033, reg. 3(d) (with reg. 4)
S. 314(1) substituted (23.8.2024 for specified purposes, 17.10.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Media Act 2024 (c. 15), ss. 44(4), 55(3)(e); S.I. 2024/858, reg. 3, Sch.; S.I. 2024/1033, reg. 3(d) (with reg. 4)
Words in s. 314(7) substituted (23.8.2024 for specified purposes, 17.10.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Media Act 2024 (c. 15), ss. 44(7)(b)(i), 55(3)(e); S.I. 2024/858, reg. 3, Sch.; S.I. 2024/1033, reg. 3(d) (with reg. 4)
Words in s. 314(2)(a) substituted (23.8.2024 for specified purposes, 17.10.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Media Act 2024 (c. 15), ss. 44(6)(a), 55(3)(e); S.I. 2024/858, reg. 3, Sch.; S.I. 2024/1033, reg. 3(d) (with reg. 4)
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)