Emap radio deal given green light

Emap’s £285.4m takeover of Glasgowbased Scottish Radio Holdings has
been formally approved by industry regulator Ofcom, but it will have to
shed one of its two digital multiplex radio licences in Scotland.

The
deal has breached broadcasting ownership rules, so Emap will have to
sell either its Glasgow or Ayr digital licence as they break the rules
by overlapping by more than 50 per cent.

These licences, called
multiplexes, allow the owners to broadcast a range of stations provided
by their own and other companies on digital radio.

Additionally,
under current rules, no owner should run more than four services on a
multiplex. So in Aberdeen, Ayr, Dundee, Perth and Inverness, where Emap
owns five in each region, it will have to discuss with Ofcom which
stations to take off air. Emap’s acquisition of 21 local analogue
licences owned by SRH – including Radio Clyde, Radio Forth, Radio Tay,
NorthSound, Aberdeen, and Moray Firth Radio, Inverness, will not
require any changes to the licences.

An Emap spokesman said: “We
will comply with the Ofcom directive. We are delighted the deal is
going through and we look forward to getting on with integrating the
two businesses.”