GWR chief launches attack on radio body

GWR chief executive Ralph Bernard has launched a public attack on the Radio Authority, accusing it of “nannying” the independent radio sector, and behaving like a dictator.

In a speech this week at a seminar to debate Access Radio – a new sector of non-commercial, private radio services – and hosted by the Radio Authority, Bernard said the commercial radio sector was at a disadvantage to BBC stations as the Radio Authority did not allow it to change its licence formats.

Bernard says the BBC’s freedom to change its formats and services in order to meet the changing needs of its listeners, had been at the expense of the more tightly regulated commercial sector which was not allowed to compete.

He says: “The regulator [the Radio Authority] believes that it always knows best, and nannies independent radio from the cradle of creativity to the graveyard of the bland”.

Bernard also claims that the Radio Authority, which he says “has no experience in the programming of radio stations in the modern broadcast environment” dictates formats to highly experienced operators.

A spokesman for Bernard adds: “We are calling for a lighter touch in regulation. These radio licences are for seven years and we need to be allowed to evolve with our listeners.”

A spokeswoman for the Radio Authority declined to comment, but adds: “The Radio Authority considers itself scrupulously fair”.