HC Deb 02 July 1996 vol 280 cc821-2

12A. The Secretary of State may by order provide that, where a digital sound programme service is provided in any area, the holding by any one person of two or more licences to provide in that area local radio services which for the purposes of paragraph 12 share a potential audience with each other or with each of the others shall, instead of being subject to the restrictions specified in paragraph 12, be subject to other restrictions specified in the order.'.—[Mr. Knapman.]

Mr. Sproat

I beg to move amendment No. 33, in page 125, line 7, leave out 'such' and insert 'non-simulcast'.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this, it will be convenient to discuss Government amendment No. 34.

Mr. Sproat

The amendments take account of the fact that local radio broadcasters are likely to want to simulcast their existing AM or FM services on local radio multiplexes and may also wish, and will be well placed to do so, to provide new services. Therefore, we have changed the restrictions on the provision of services on local radio multiplexes so that a broadcaster can provide any number of simulcast channels and one non-simulcast service on a local multiplex. It does not guarantee local broadcasters capacity on the local multiplex, but it recognises their distinctive position and the fact that digital local multiplexes are likely to cover wider areas than analogue licences.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendments made: No. 34, in page 125 leave out lines 8 to 28 and insert—

  1. '(2) Where—
    1. (a) the coverage area of the local radio multiplex service is to a significant extent the same as that of another local radio multiplex service, and
    2. (b) the person concerned is not providing any non-simulcast service by means of that other local radio multiplex service, 822 sub-paragraph (1) shall have effect as if the reference to one non-simulcast service were a reference to two such services.
  2. (3) In this paragraph "non-simulcast service" means any local digital sound programme service other than one which—
    1. (a) is provided by a person who holds a licence to provide a local radio service, and
    2. (b) corresponds to that local radio service.
  3. (4) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3)(b) a local digital sound programme service corresponds to a local radio service if, and only if, in every calendar month—
    1. (a) at least 80 per cent. of so much of the local radio service as consists of programmes. consists of programmes which are also included in the local digital sound programme service in that month, and
    2. (b) at least 50 per cent. of so much of the local radio service as consists of such programmes is broadcast at the same time on both services.
  4. (5) The Secretary of State may by order—
    1. (a) amend sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) by substituting a different numerical limit for any numerical limit for the time being specified there, and
    2. (b) amend sub-paragraph (4)(a) or (b) by substituting a different percentage for any percentage for the time being specified there.
  5. (6) In subsection (4) "programme" does not include an advertisement.'

No. 35, in page 125, line 28, at end insert—