Merger for oldest radio station
Regulator throws vital lifeline to struggling volunteer-run outlet
A PLAN to merge the UK’s oldest community radio station with a neighbour has been approved despite objections after the broadcast regulator agreed the move was needed to ensure its future.
Volunteer-run Heartland FM in Perth and Wave 102 in Dundee announced earlier this month it hoped to join forces but was put on temporary hold to allow for a consultation.
The Heartland station was saved from closure last year after losing core funding from Perth and Kinross Council.
Last month it launched a crowdfunding campaign to raised £15,000 to find a new home and “secure a long-term future” after its landlord had plans for its small office in Pitlochry. But it is understood the appeal was withdrawn.
The communications regulator had said in a consultation document that it believed the changes proposed would “represent a significant change” to the output of the existing Heartland FM service received by listeners in Perth.
But Ofcom has given the okay to the stations to join forces saying it had “accepted that the proposed changes were necessary to ensure the ongoing financial viability of the Perth licence”.
Ofcom added: “In reaching this view we were also mindful of the fact that, since it launched in 2008, this is the second time that the Perth licence has experienced significant financial difficulties.”
Heartland FM took over the licence from original owners Perth FM in 2011.
Ofcom said it was not satisfied that among people living in the area, there was evidence of significant support for the change.
The main grounds of complaint from the public surrounded the new Perth service being Dundee-dominated.
There were also concerns that specialist music programmes, covering country music and folk, which currently air on Heartland, would be lost.
And Ofcom said a number of objectors suggested the difficult financial situation had been caused by “poor management, rather than the Perth licence being inherently unviable”.
But the regulator said: “Ofcom was satisfied that the proposed changes, taken as a whole, would not narrow the range of programmes available in the area by way of relevant independent radio services.
“While we acknowledge that there might be some narrowing of the range of programmes available, if the specialist music shows currently aired by Heartland FM were to disappear from the Perth airwaves, we note that specialist music is not a requirement of the format of the Perth licence.”
Heartland FM chairman Graham Higgins added: “The prospect of working with Wave 102 is very exciting which will help secure the future of Heartland Radio and see it continue to be the market leading radio station for North Perthshire.”