In May 2016, the Contract Awards Committee of the BAI issued a public notice announcing its intention to invoke the fast-track licensing process for a number of sound broadcasting services, in accordance with section 67 (3) of the Broadcasting Act 2009.
The fast-track process can be invoked by the Committee when only one expression of interest is received from an incumbent sound broadcasting contractor following a call for Expressions of Interest. Such a call was made by the BAI on 12th February last. One expression of interest was received from the incumbent for each of the following services: a National Broad-format Service; a Regional Youth Music-driven Service, serving the Southwest of the country; and, a Local Broad-format Service for Limerick City and County.
The public notification, placed in the national press and on the BAI website on 10th May last, stated that any person, other than the incumbent, interested in providing a service in any of the franchise areas was required to submit in writing that he/she wished to apply for the award of the contract (“Statement of Intent”) by the stated closing date.
No Statements of Intent were received by the BAI from any person for any of the contracts advertised. The Contract Awards Committee will now consider whether to formally ratify the fast-track application process for the contracts at its forthcoming meeting on Tuesday 28th June 2016. A further update on the licensing process is expected to be issued within two days of this meeting.
Note
- The contract for the National Broad-format Service is currently held by Radio Ireland Limited, broadcasting as Today FM. This contract is scheduled to expire on 16th March 2017. The closing date for receipt of any Statement of Intent was Tuesday 7th June 2016.
- The contract for the Regional Youth Music-driven Service is currently held by Spin South West Limited, broadcasting as Spin South West. This contract is scheduled to expire on 28th June 2017. The closing date for receipt of any Statement of Intent was Tuesday 7th June 2016.
- The contract for the Local, Broad-format Service for Limerick City and County is currently held by Treaty Radio Limited, broadcasting as Limerick’s Live 95FM. This contract is due to expire on 23rd October 2017. The closing date for receipt of any Statement of Intent was Thursday 9th June 2016.
-ENDS-
Media Queries to: Tony Heffernan / Catherine Heaney
DHR Communications
01 4200580/ 087 2399508/ 087 2309835