Media Minister Stephanie Peacock will table amendments to the Community Radio Order in Parliament later today which will relax advertising restrictions.
This will allow community stations to raise more than the current limit of £15,000 a year from advertising and sponsorship, to be reinvested to improve content.
These changes, which follow a public consultation, will come into effect in April 2025. They will also extend stations’ licences for a further 10 years to reduce the admin costs of reapplying, which previously had to be done every five years.
Media Minister Stephanie Peacock said: “Community radio has a valuable role on our airwaves, producing truly local content that keeps people connected, engaged and entertained.
“We want to ensure growth in community radio stations across the country by providing them with greater stability and financial flexibility. It will mean they can continue doing what they do best – whether that’s delivering language specific programming or offering training opportunities to young people interested in a radio career.
“This is a clear signal that this government has community radio’s back and we want it to grow and thrive for years to come.”
Community Media Association Chair Terry Lee said: “The Community Media Association welcomes the amendments to the Community Radio Order as a significant milestone in the evolution of community radio in the UK.
“By extending FM licenses to 10 years and ending advertising and sponsorship limits for most stations, these changes will provide greater financial sustainability and reduce administrative burdens for our members.
“As the voice of community radio since 1983, we remain committed to ensuring these vital, not-for-profit, and volunteer-led stations continue to thrive in serving their communities. We look forward to working with the Government to build on this progress and secure an even brighter future for community radio.”
UK Community Radio Network Co-Founder Martin Steers said: “The UK Community Radio Network welcomes any measures by the Government to relax regulation on Community Radio, and especially welcome the move to extend licences even further allowing established Community Radio stations to continue to do the fantastic work serving their communities across the country.”
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