Radio

The licensing process for commercial radio services on the AM and FM bands are initiated by the Authority.

There are currently 34 commercial radio services on-air throughout the country, national, regional and local providing a mix of news/speech-driven, music-driven and local content-driven services.

The BAI issues licensing plans which detail any planned licensing processes for such commercial radio services.

The licensing process for community / community of interest / special interest radio services on the AM and FM bands are initiated by the Authority.

Currently there are 22 community / community of interest / special interest services on-air.

The BAI issues licensing plans which detail any planned licensing processes for such community radio services.

The BAI can award temporary sound broadcasting contracts for a period of up to 30 days in a 12 month period, (“a regular temporary service”). In addition, the BAI can award a temporary sound broadcasting contract to an applicant group that is representative of, and accountable to a community in a particular area, or a community of interest in an area for a period of up to 100 days in a 12 month period, (“a pilot community temporary service”).

Regular temporary sound broadcasting contracts of up to 30 days are typically awarded to educational and / or student groups, and other groups for special event purposes, for example festivals, drive-in movies and other small area services. The BAI awards approximately 17 such licences per year. Approximately 5 pilot community temporary sound broadcasting contracts are awarded annually on a pilot basis to community groups in a particular franchise area interested in establishing a full-time community station in the future.

Applicants can apply at any time for such contracts and the relevant guidelines and application forms for each of the above types of temporary service can be found below.

Broadcasting of such services without a contract from the BAI is illegal and details of the broadcaster in question should be forwarded to ComReg.

Any person who wishes to supply a compilation of programme material for the purpose of inclusion as part of a multiplex, or for the purpose of its being transmitted as a broadcasting service in the State, part of the State or elsewhere by means of an electronic communications network including a satellite network, an MMD system, a fixed or mobile terrestrial network, a cable television network, an internet protocol television network, or any other form of electronic communications network, can apply to the BAI for a content provision contract.

The content provision contracts have to date being typically awarded to services broadcasting on a trial Digital Audio Broadcasting platform or for the provision of Christian radio services on a cable network.  There are currently 3 such services broadcasting: Amazing Radio, Raidió Rí Rá and United Christian Broadcasters.

Applicants can apply at any time for such a licence.

Institutions such as colleges and hospitals can apply for institutional sound broadcasting contracts which can be awarded for a period of up to ten years. There are currently 6 institutional services: Dreamtime Radio (Kilkenny), CUHFM Hospital Radio (Cork), Regional Hospital Radio (Limerick), St. Ita’s Hospital Radio (Dublin), South Tipperary General Hospital Radio and Reflink (Irish Rugby Football Union).

Applicants can apply at any time for such a licence.

Indicative Guide Commercial Radio Service

Indicative Commercial Sound Broadcasting Contract

Indicative Community Sound Broadcasting Contract

Guide Regular Temporary Service

Application Form Regular Temporary Service

Guide Pilot Community Temporary Service

Application Form Pilot Community Temporary Service

Disability Access Guidelines for Community and Pilot Community Radio

Guide to Content Provision Contracts

Guide to Institutional Services   Please note that the attached application is currently under review. Please contact contracts@bai.ie for further information.