Media regulator Ofcom has published its review of the BBC’s assessment of whether its proposals for three new music streams on BBC Sounds are ‘material changes’ to its public service activities.
Ofcom has concluded that the BBC can proceed with proposals for its new music streams, except for the launch of a BBC Radio 2 extension that it says may have a significant adverse impact on fair and effective competition.
The review finds that the launch of a Radio 2 extension with a focus on ‘pop nostalgia’ may have a significant impact on Boom Radio. The independent digital radio station launched in 2021 and targets ‘baby boomers’.
If the BBC wishes to proceed with its plans for the Radio 2 extension on BBC Sounds it would need to conduct a Public Interest Test.
BBC’s plans for digital music stations
In February the corporation unveiled plans for ‘extensions’ to BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3 which would be available on DAB+ and BBC Sounds. This week’s review by Ofcom relates only to the proposals to launch the streams on BBC Sounds.
The proposed stations would be:
- A BBC Radio 1 extension playing music by acts supported by Radio 1 in the 2000s and 2010s
- An expanded version of the existing BBC Sounds Radio 1 Dance stream with an “expanded content offer” including new commissions
- A BBC Radio 2 extension with music primarily from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s
- A BBC Radio 3 extension providing a “classical music experience that helps listeners unwind”
Before the BBC can make changes to its licence-fee funded services it must consider whether the changes may have a significant adverse impact on fair and effective competition.
The launch of the radio stations on DAB+ is subject to a Public Interest Test (PIT), a process that the BBC expects to run until the end of 2024. When Ofcom receives the PIT it will carry out a competition assessment to determine whether or not the BBC may proceed with its plans.
The new radio stations would be ‘brand extensions’, similar to BBC Radio 4 Extra and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. Radio brands like Heart and Magic have expanded in recent years adding stations dedicated to specific genres, in the case of Magic Soul and Mellow Magic, or decades, like Heart 70s and Heart 90s.
Extensions to existing radio stations on digital radio that benefit from sharing a known brand and cross-promotion can be traced back to the early 2000s, with stations like Virgin Radio Classic Rock (now Absolute Classic Rock) and Capital Life.
Changes to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
The BBC is proposing to broadcast more content on existing radio station BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.
Currently the station plays a marketing trail on a loop when there are no live sports being broadcast. The BBC’s proposal would see existing BBC sports related audio content, such as podcasts and programmes from the Nations and Regions, played on the station.
The corporation says it will launch a separate Public Interest Test for BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.