1. station name guidance notes 2. community to be served … · 2017. 8. 31. · hillside,...

Mighty Radio community radio licence application form

1. Station Name Guidance Notes

What is the proposed station name? This is the name you expect to use to identify the station on air.

Mighty Radio

2. Community to be served Guidance Notes

Define the community or communities you are proposing to serve. Drawing from various sources of data (e.g. from the Office of Population, Census and Survey) and in relation to your proposed coverage area, please determine the size of the population concerned and the make-up of the population as a whole, along with any relevant socio-economic information that would support your application.

(Please tell us the sources of the information you provide.)

Answer in fewer than 300 words:

It is a legislative requirement that a service is intended primarily to serve one or more communities (whether or not it also serves other members of the public) and we need to understand who comprises that community or communities. The target community will also be specified in the licence, if this application is successful.

The legislation defines a ‘community’ as: people who live or work or undergo education or training in a particular area or locality, or people who have one or more interests or characteristics in common.

In 2010 Southport constituency's estimated population was 90,197. Gender breakdown: Females

make up 52.5% of residents. 60% of Residents are of working age. 16.5% are children with a higher

than average proportion of over 65 year olds at 22.6%. Just 1.8% are non-white British. House prices

are 42% higher than the average Sefton area price with those living in RSL properties less than half

for the Sefton area as a whole. Benefit claimants for the area equate to half the Sefton area average.

However, compared to the rest of the Sefton area, wages are considerably lower in Southport. (From

Southport Parliamentary Constituency Profile 2012) 66.1% of workers travel by car. (Southport Area

Committee Profile) Southport’s MP is Conservative.

Southport is a coastal seaside resort and a linear settlement and can only be approached in a limited

number of directions by road. It has a long history of leisure and recreation and is dependent upon

tourism. The town hosts annual events (including a major flower show, air-show, and the British

Fireworks Championships. The town is 4th in the country for notable investment. (N.Y. Times)

The town is often referred to as 'England's Golfing Capital and has the highest concentration of

championship links courses. Southport has many attractions and with its wide boulevard is home to a

plethora of cafes, bars and restaurants, hotels, and clubs resulting in a vibrant night life and influx of

younger people in the evenings. It is a major shopping centre with a wide range of businesses. In

short, a vibrant seaside town with a large transient population and a residential population with a

higher than average element of over 65 year olds.

The largest non-British community is Polish with an estimated 3000 in 2009 (Southport Visiter), which

makes up 3.3% of the area population.

3. Proposed area Guidance Notes

What is the area you propose to serve? Although we believe it is helpful to set guidance that frequency availability may often limit transmission powers to around 25 watts and the coverage radius to around 5km, we are adopting a more flexible approach and will consider applications for wider areas where applicants can demonstrate that the proposed coverage area will better serve the target community, and where it is technically possible. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/101459/community-radio-future-licensing-technical-policy-statement.pdf

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/101459/community-radio-future-licensing-technical-policy-statement.pdf




Southport town and the immediate surrounding areas. These include the hamlets and villages of

Hillside, Birkdale, Church town, Banks, Meols Cop, Ainsdale and Formby. We wish to apply for a 50

watt ERP service to ensure that the village of Formby is covered adequately – although we also

understand that this may not be permissible due to frequency planning restrictions. We’ve identified

107.9 MHz as a frequency still available in the Southport area, as this was allocated to the now

defunct Dune FM service (1997 – 2012.)

Programmes and programme output:

Definitions:

Studio location: The studio from which the service will be broadcast should be located within the licensed area.

Locally-produced: Locally-produced output is output made and broadcast from within the service’s licensed coverage area. (It is anticipated that most stations will produce the bulk of their output themselves, in the locality. However, for some target communities it may be appropriate for fairly high levels of output to originate from outside the licensed area.)

Live output: is that which is produced by a presenter in the studio at the time of broadcast. (The amount of live output may vary between different services depending on the needs or expectations of the target community.)

Community radio application form

Original output: output that is first produced for and transmitted by the service, and excludes output that was transmitted elsewhere before. Original output can be live or voice-tracked. Repeat broadcasts of original output do not count towards the minimum requirement.

Peak time: it may be helpful to state what material will be broadcast in ‘peak time’. If you do, please say what you consider peak time to be for your target community (this may vary from station to station).

Automated output/voice-tracked material: most stations will carry automated output at some time. The amount of automated or voice-tracked material does not need to be specified in the Key Commitments.

Sustaining service/third party produced material: if you intend to broadcast material produced by a different organisation please state what it is and how much (per day or week as appropriate).

4. Programming output Guidance Notes

Please fill-in all three questions below

Question A asks you to describe your programme service.

Question B relates to how your output will serve the tastes and interests of your target community.

Question C is about how your service will broaden the range of local (non-BBC) services available in your area.

Later in this form you will be asked to draft your own ‘key commitments’. This will form the basis of your licence and is what Ofcom will judge you against. It should include a summary of your proposed programme output as set out below and reflect your commitment to cater for relevant tastes and interests, to broaden the range of relevant programmes and services and to provide a service with a distinct nature and content as set out in the Guidance Notes in the column opposite.

The law requires applicants to state their proposals for providing a service that would:

(i) cater for the tastes and interests of members of its target community or communities (or for any particular tastes and interests in those communities);

(ii) broaden the range of programmes available on non-BBC local services (commercial and community stations) to members of the relevant community or communities;

(iii) broaden the overall range of such non-BBC local services provided in the area concerned; and

(iv) have a distinct nature, or provide distinct content, from any non-BBC local services with which it would overlap.

Ofcom is required to consider the extent to which an applicant’s proposals will cater for the tastes and interests of members of its target community or communities.

Ofcom is also required to consider the extent to which proposals for a community radio station would broaden the range of programmes available by way of non-BBC local services (both commercial and community stations) in the area concerned (especially, the extent to which a proposed service would have a distinct nature or provide distinct content from any overlapping non-BBC local services).

The information given here should be more detailed than what you set out in your draft key commitments (later in this form), and will help us gain a fuller understanding of how you will serve your target community and what the station will sound like.

4. Programming output

A: Please tell us about your programme service. The following questions may help you describe your programme service (but should only be used as a guide):

• What will the service sound like?

• What music will you play?

• What are the main speech elements of the service and how will the social gain/community benefits you propose be reflected on-air?

• What is the likely music to speech ratio?

• Will this vary at different times of the day or week (or year)?

• Do you intend to broadcast live output? If so when and how much do you propose to do?

• Will you broadcast in languages other than English (what languages and how much)?

• Will your output be original i.e. specifically produced for your service?

• Will it be locally produced?

• Do you intend to repeat material?

Answer in fewer than 1,000 words:


The main focus of the service will be to offer a local perspective not currently available through

existing radio stations.

Southport and its surrounding villages are at present served by stations broadcasting out of Liverpool

and Preston; their output includes minimal content specific to listeners in and around Southport and

the greater Sefton region. There are few, if any opportunities for the residents of the area to be

directly involved in and engaged with what they broadcast.

Through its programming, Mighty Radio will address this lack of involvement and engagement, giving

local residents information of direct relevance to themselves and their town as well as the opportunity

to contribute to and determine the station’s output.

The station will broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and the majority of the output will be live.

The service will be automated overnight (generally between 11pm and 7am) when it will be music-

based with live news feeds on the hour throughout the night.

With the exception of specialist programmes, music will range from the 1960s to the present day. Live

specialist music programmes (rock, country, soul, 60s and those aimed at a younger audience) will be

broadcast on weekday and Saturday evenings, generally between 7pm and 11pm; in addition, a local

band scene programme will be broadcast weekly too.

Other specialist programmes include sports-related opinion focussed on Southport FC and a

programme aimed specifically at female listeners.

The overnight automated periods will be almost exclusively music-based, while the two sports-related

shows will be largely speech-based and the female focussed programme will have a music to speech

ratio of 60/40. With all other programmes being principally music-based, it is anticipated that the

overall average music to speech ratio will be in the region of 80/20.

The main speech elements of the service will include local traffic reports (particularly during peak

travel times 7am-10am and 4pm-7pm), details of local events and entertainment, local business news

and advice, live reports from local sports fixtures and interviews with local residents and experts on a

wide range of topics.

Live outside broadcasts will cover major events in the area such as the Southport Flower Show,

Southport Air Show, The British Musical Fireworks Championship, Southport Food and Drink Festival

and international auspicious sports celebrations e.g. Royal Birkdale.

Mighty Radio has already successfully found a fantastic home in the town and after successfully

trialling two FM RSL’s in 2012 and 2013 has been broadcasting online ever since. We are proud to

announce that this full time application has been supported and endorsed by Southport YMCA who

have offered us space to move into and extend our existing studio facility. We envisage this work will

be completed during the autumn.

We believe that social gain is effectively put to good use within a setting such as the YMCA, where

their existing complex hosts over 50 different local not for profit groups on a monthly basis. The

addition of Mighty Radio to this offering will give the local community a unique broadcast and social

media voice. In addition, we have set up close working partnerships with Birkdale Primary School,

KGV College and Southport College. These organisations have also pledged their support to Mighty

Radio’s bid to realise a full time community radio station for Southport.

With the exception of live national news and sports feeds, all output will be originally produced for

Mighty Radio. All presenters are residents of Southport and its immediate vicinity.

In addition to its FM broadcasts, Mighty Radio will continue to be streamed live via its website and

there will be a ‘Listen Again’ facility for selected elements via podcasts and/or the station’s Sound

Cloud. Other than this, programmes will not be repeated.

B. What is the address of the proposed studio (if known)?

Southport YMCA, 81 Hoghton Street, Southport, PR9 0PR.


C: Based on what you have said above, how will your proposed radio service cater for the tastes and interests of your target community/communities?


At peak listening times (mid-week 7am to 7pm) and during overnight automation, the music content of

the service will cater for the tastes of the main target audience, covering the 1960s to the present day.

Specialist music shows, generally aired between 7pm and 11pm, will cater for a range of ages (from

teenagers upwards) including country, rock and soul.

At peak times, speech content will focus on subjects of general local interest, such as traffic and travel

news, events, upcoming sports fixtures and other activities. Studio guests will be interviewed on air,

discussing topics relevant to the area and giving a local perspective on stories of regional and

national interest.

Our current sports-related shows, largely speech based, feature live updates and reports from sports

fixtures in the broadcast area. Saturday afternoons and Wednesday evenings are the busy times and

include interviews with local sports clubs and with participants of all ages and levels of achievement.

We feature a wide range of sporting activities.

The weekly female based programme will feature interviews on topics of general interest to the

female population of the area, a mix of information and advice from local experts and practitioners,

together with news of events and activities of specific relevance to the target audience.

We have to date covered local events such as Southport Christmas lights switch on, the previously

mentioned Southport Airshow, Food and Drink festival, British Musical Fireworks Championships and

also the amazing Southport Flower Show.

Southport as a community has a wide and diverse variety of interests and is extremely rich in culture

and entertainment venues. It has events that attract tens of thousands of visitors from the UK and

abroad. These are local events, sourced and produced in Southport usually in conjunction with Sefton

Council. The key to our catering for the tastes and needs of the community is to invite them to

participate in our programming, which we already do and will continue to do so.

Southport has a wealth of clubs to cover including sword fencing, rugby, golf, cricket and sailing. We

do and will continue to reflect the local school and college communities to participate in our

programming or produce their own shows. The wealth of Arts in Southport is catered for in a number

of programmes that cover everything from local theatres to local authors.

D: How will your proposed community radio service add to the range of programmes available on non-BBC local services (commercial and community stations) to members of the relevant community or communities, add to the overall range of such services in the area concerned and be different and distinct from them? Please tell us which non-BBC local services your station will overlap with.


There are no other non-BBC local radio services specific to this area. However Mighty Radio will

overlap with stations such as Radio City 1,2 and 3, 97.4 Rock FM, Smooth Radio North West & Heart.

The recently launched DAB only station “Sandgrounder Radio” appears to be commercial in nature

and mainly employs the services of professional broadcasters who reside outside the area. All of the

stations mentioned, currently offer very, if any content of specific relevance to community based

output in and around Southport. Since the closure of our local ILR station, Dune FM - the area has

been eerily silent with local news, views and relevant output.

Our programmes are and will continue to be mostly delivered by volunteer presenters living & working

in and around Southport and Sefton, with extensive knowledge of the area and the issues of interest

and relevance to their fellow residents.

With the exception of national news and sports bulletins, the speech content of the service will be

exclusively local to Southport and the villages and hamlets surrounding us. Local residents will be

given the opportunity to take part in programmes, either as interviewees/guests or by contributing to


topics under discussion via phone-ins, by email, through social media platforms or our current

website.

With our unique education & YMCA partnership, Mighty Radio aims to set a new standard in local

media training. Our base at Southport YMCA will lend itself to outreach programmes easily. As a web

station, we support and include school children and their families in our internet output. An example of

this is the radio station attending and hosting podcast workshops at local schools. We also have a

good working relationship with KGV and Southport College as a post 16 educational partner.

Recently we invited students from the local KGV College to write and perform short dramas. A

number of our current online programmes invite bands into the studio to play live - some are

experienced but many gain experience from this in terms of playing studio live and in interview

technique.

We will create with members of the Polish Community 3 hours of broadcasting per week in English

and Polish aimed at their needs and also to increase awareness of their culture generally.

Social gain

5. Social gain Guidance Notes

Community radio is required to be for the public good and to bring community benefits, or social gains, to listeners and participants. The requirement for ‘social gain,’ is one of the key factors that makes community radio stations different from other radio services.

Please tell us what community benefits your service will bring to your target community(ies) and/or the general public. Please include summaries of evidence to support your answer.

Your draft ‘key commitments’ (later in this form) should include a summary of your proposed social gain set out below.


Broadcasting legislation specifies a number of ‘characteristics of community radio services’. Licence holders need to ensure their services conform to these characteristics, including in this case the delivery of social gain.

The legislation sets out social gains that stations must provide. These are the achievement, in respect of individuals or groups of individuals in the target community, or in respect of other members of the public, of the following objectives –

(a) the provision of a radio service to individuals who are otherwise underserved by such services,

(b) the facilitation of discussion and the expression of opinion,

(c) the provision (whether by means of programmes included in the service or otherwise) of education or training to individuals not employed by the station, and

(d) the better understanding of the particular community and the strengthening of links within it.

Social gain may also include the achievement of other objectives of a social nature.1

Applicants are required to provide evidence that their service will result in significant social gain to the public or the target community(ies). Copies of letters or research reports etc. should not be submitted, but brief relevant extracts from them, which represent an accurate and comprehensive summary, may be included. If we wish to see the source material, we will ask for it.

Ofcom is required to have regard to the extent to which your proposed service would result in the delivery of social gain to the public or target community.

Mighty Radio intends to deliver social gain in the following ways:

• Improve community awareness of local services and local amenities.

1 See Article 2(3) of the Community Radio Order 2004 and Ofcom’s Notes of guidance for community radio

applicants and licensees.


• Promote economic development and social enterprise.

• Promote employment and provide work experience opportunities.

• Promote social inclusion.

• Promote cultural and linguistic diversity.

• Promote civic participation and volunteering.

Mighty Radio currently works hand in hand with education and training providers to create an all-

inclusive platform for local issues and diversification. Everyone engaged as a volunteer at Mighty

Radio is a member of the Southport community and gains personally by giving time and energy for

the benefit of the station and its current overall agreed social gain objectives. In addition, the station’s

friendship with the YMCA is a perfect partnership as both organisations see themselves as “always

open.” Mighty Radio and the YMCA will host community events and social gatherings throughout the

year.

During our trial RSL broadcasts, we featured a regular programme called “The Academy.” This hour

long broadcast was produced to showcase the positive results that vocational training and education

can bring across the area. In addition to this, we have focussed features on local life. Part of

Southport's community is transient - people come and go. We already consider ourselves to be a

welcoming useful service to those moving into the area and will provide relevant information about the

area from the history of Southport, from 'what's on' to local news and traffic and issues affecting the

community. Southport has a large number of day-trippers too who temporarily become a part of our

community and we have and will continue to provide a service of useful information to them from best

places to park to information about things to do and see. Tourism benefits the community of Southport

and for many members of the community it is their livelihood. We shall encourage tourism to our

community and aid visitors with useful information.

Mighty Radio continues to be engaged in outside “Podcast Training” with education providers around

the area. This is proven to increase and encourage literacy skill in key stage 1 and 2 children. We are

currently talking through the logistics of setting up a permanent feeder studio at Birkdale Primary and

also KGV college. It is our intention to gain a further partnership with these locations as drop in

centres for the wider community, engaged in part or full time education.

We do and will continue to encourage all community groups and individuals to participate in

programming and give them training where requested. Southport is full of history and heritage and

has a bustling tourist season. The radio station already adds to the flavour of the town online by

means of championing local debate, discussion and tackling long standing issues such as the lack of

A&E provision at Southport Hospital. This will be much increased if and when we are granted an

official CR license. Our local Polish community is thriving and currently has no broadcast outlet for

sharing their successes and woes. This is a lack that we are currently researching and acting upon

with editorial on our internet based Mighty Radio station.

Southport is lucky in having a large number of activities, events, clubs and sports available to its

community. We wish to increase awareness of these especially to the retired and unemployed. It will

be our intention to bring these valuable assets to the forefront of thought through bespoke editorial

aimed at mental and physical fitness initiatives.

The station helps local business to have a voice by means of affordable bilateral support. To date

some of the town’s most respected employers have given us a positive “nod” and used the radio

station both during RSLs and online. Partners such as STCC Southport, Wilsons Auto bodies, Mook

Gardens & the Southport Visiter have benefitted, as has our local Business Club. We also have a

vibrant on and off air partnership with the Champion newspaper group. This synergy will be actively

increased if and when Mighty Radio is successful gaining a full time broadcast licence.

Mighty Radio considers the recruitment and development of volunteers crucial to sustainability,

viability and overall ethos of the station. Without substantial volunteer and community input then there

really is no real reason for the station to exist. A strategy has been devised and will be developed to

expand volunteer and community group membership. When funding becomes available a part-time


“Community Outreach” officer will be appointed to actively promote this aim. From the outset, one of

our station management team will assume this role in a voluntary capacity.

In addition to this, we firmly believe that sport has the unique capability to cross social divides. Part of

our core sport objective is to raise the profile of local sports, encourage the widest participation and

use it to facilitate social inclusion. Mighty Radio is both a firm supporter of children’s sports and the

plight of Southport FC as they battle to find new form and success.

In conclusion, Mighty Radio will provide local news and information and opportunities to debate and

discuss issues in specialist programming. This will put the station to good use as a practical,

immediate and cost effective means of reaching and engaging the whole of the TSA. We will work

very closely with local journalist - Martin Hovden to magnify, discuss and debate issues on air that

surface in local titles.

Access and participation:

6. Participation in the service Guidance Notes

How do you propose to ensure that members of your target community (or communities) are given opportunities to participate in the operation and management of the service?

Your draft ‘key commitments’ (later in this form) should include a summary of your proposed participation objectives as set out below.


Legislation specifies a number of ‘characteristics of community radio services’. Licence holders need to ensure their services conform to these characteristics, including in this case providing opportunities to participate in the operation and management of the service. Ofcom requires information as to how this would be achieved.

What will be the involvement of members of the target community in the radio station? How many volunteers do you anticipate will be involved in your service per year?

All volunteers of the station are part of our working group and will continue to be invited to attend

regular scheduled meetings with station staff and management. This will ensure that everyone has a

valued input in the whole decision making process.

Mighty Radio’s programmes will be delivered by the current core group of 30 volunteer presenters, all

of whom have lots of experience to pass on. This resource will be used to recruit another 10+ in year

1.

Ranging in age from 16 to 60 plus, the current volunteers all live or work in the area and bring a wide

range of interests and specialist knowledge to their programmes. This reflects the diversity of ages

and interests of the target audience.

As the FM service progresses, there will be on-going opportunities for new presenters to contribute to

programmes. Appropriate training and mentoring will be provided by the more experienced members

of the existing team.

Members of the community will be encouraged to become involved in the service on a variety of

levels.

On a day to day basis, members of the target community will be able to take part in programmes

through interviews, by contributing to discussions by phone, email or through social media and by

providing information and ideas for inclusion in upcoming programmes. The Mighty Radio / YMCA

studio setting will be always welcoming and all inclusive.

Individuals and small groups will have the opportunity to visit the studios to find out how they operate

and senior members of the team will be available to give off-site presentations to groups and

organisations, with the aim of encouraging involvement and support.

The service’s management team will also develop and deliver short media training courses for small

groups, in particular (and due to our setting) aimed at the young and disadvantaged. Where

appropriate, this activity will be broadly based on education curriculum requirements and key

vocational skills.


Our broad strategy for inviting participation already includes;

• Press releases to local media encouraging participation.

• Regular requests for volunteers on Mighty Radio online.

• Public meetings to promote the station across the area and invite support.

• Information stands at various career and community information open days.

• Social Media updates and encouragement.

We have strong following using social networking sites Facebook and Twitter. At current count there

are over 2000 likes on Facebook and are being followed by over 1500 members on Twitter.

7. Access to facilities and training Guidance Notes

Set out the practical (formal and informal) mechanisms which you will use to ensure that members of your target community can gain access to your facilities that would be used for the provision of your service and to receive training in their use.

Your draft ‘key commitments’ (later in this form) should include a summary of your proposed access and objectives for training people in the use of the facilities as set out below.


Ofcom is required by the legislation to have regard to the provision each applicant proposes to make to allow for access by members of the target community to the facilities to be used for the provision of the service and for their training in the use of those facilities.

Our new base at Southport YMCA will be set up to provide a popular facility for the local community to

participate and grow. It will service a dual role as broadcast centre for Mighty Radio and also as an

education and training facility for existing students associated with the YMCA and its partner

organisations. In addition, Mighty Radio will provide post 16 study alongside both KGV and Southport

Colleges, and their strategic partners. The current team of station volunteers is headed up by a team

of directors with skills that complement each other perfectly.

The new studio environment will be independently accessible away from YMCA opening hours for

anyone wishing to take part - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It will also be fully equipped for disabled

access. The facility will consist of a full suite of standard broadcast equipment, sourced from our

current base on Compton Road. The IT provision has been specified on inclusion for all with a play-

out system that is designed by a close friend of the organisation and is in use by many other stations

and training organisations across the country.

In addition to this, and as previously mentioned we wish to set up other smaller facilities around the

TSA (based in partner schools and establishments.) These will serve as alternative centres of

inclusion and therefore complement our existing station base at the YMCA. We will be enlisting the

assistance of P Johnson from Radio Station Solutions Limited for both studio and IT install, and

professional services regarding transmission contracts.

Mighty Radio continuously encourages participation in any case. Where people come to us with a

genuine desire to help and assist we train them in whatever area they are most interested in. As

previously mentioned, we currently have a core of over 30 volunteers and wish to grow this number in

manageable and incremental steps.

Ensuring accountability:

8. Accountability Guidance Notes

Please set out your proposed community accountability mechanisms. These should cover matters such as:

How will members of your target community:

• make contact with your service, and

Broadcasting legislation specifies a number of ‘characteristics of community radio services’. Licence holders need to ensure their services conform to these characteristics. One is that, in respect of the provision of the service, the provider makes itself accountable to the


• influence the operation of the service?

How will suggestions or criticisms from members of your target community (or communities) be considered and acted upon?

Your draft ‘key commitments’ (later in this form) should include a summary of your proposed accountability measures as set out below.


community (or communities) the service is intended to serve.

Ofcom is required to have regard to the provision each applicant proposes to make in order to ensure its accountability to the relevant community (or communities).

Mighty Radio will ensure that the service and organisation are accessible and accountable to all by

means of upholding our current policy of inclusion and adding the additional value and support of our

friends at the YMCA. We will continue to deliver our community forum meetings that we advertise

locally and continue to organise the date profile around a quarter schedule and ahead of our director’s

meetings. Using at these sittings, we are able to easily summarise the findings of the forum ahead of

the senior station strategy presentations and decision making processes.

In general terms, our current facility on Compton Road and our new YMCA studios lend themselves to

continuing where we left off by ensuring that members of the public can make direct contact with us

by visiting the station, emailing our frequently advertised email address, texting / calling our local

number or writing to us. Another benefit of our location is that we are centrally situated in town,

meaning that most of the core population is within a 10-min commute of the station & YMCA building.

All initial communication regarding suggestions, criticisms or complaints will be made to and

responded to by the Managing / Station Director. Our management team, who have distinct areas of

support and expertise, will also be involved as part of this contact structure. This will optimise the

station’s response time and also allow the board of Directors to be made aware and kept in the loop

of any outstanding issues.

Our website will carry the obligatory Ofcom Public File information for the avoidance of doubt and

point web contact direct to the correct recipient.

It will be our intention to push the “forum” message out as a matter of urgency following licence

award, so that we can monitor respondents’ backgrounds and areas of expertise. One of our

management team already assumes the role of “Community Officer.” They will oversee the “forum”

process and assess its effectiveness with any concerns being directly fed back to the Station Director.

In most cases, the activity of the “forum” is attended by both the CLO and Station Director.

The Station Director will be the main contact for any Ofcom related matters. They will have ultimate

responsibility for compliance, broadcast code instigation and station performance feedback.

Mighty Radio will continue to announce its A.G.M to the local community and the format of the

session will be open to all. The location for this will again be our base at Southport YMCA.

Audience research is always an invaluable tool in assessing effectiveness, however many stations of

this size struggle to find the necessary means to fund such work. In any case, the sample point size of

such a survey would not give an accurate enough figure. Mighty Radio will aim to enlist the assistance

of the many education and training partners already involved with its operation to aid this at a very

local level, and with a greater sample size.

Guidance notes: station’s draft key commitments

Please draft the Key Commitments for your proposed service. There is a blank key commitments template overleaf. If your organisation is awarded a licence, the key commitments you draft here will be included in your licence. (Please note: Ofcom may require amendments if, for example, we feel changes are required to better reflect your application proposals).

Your draft Key Commitments should be consistent with, and, where appropriate, summarise the answers you have already given in this application form.

It is important that you draft your own commitments rather than just copying what may have been done by others. You should keep in mind that it will be a condition of any licence to meet the Key Commitments: something you must do at all times and for breach of which you could face sanctions including revocation of the licence. So, you should think carefully about what you will be committing to.


We would expect key commitments to be brief and no more than one page long.

KEY COMMITMENTS: to be completed by the applicant [Guidance is given in italics.]

Station name

[As in section 1 of this application] Mighty Radio

Licence area

[State the proposed coverage area as set out in section 3 of this form.]

Southport and its surrounding villages and hamlets.

Description of character of service

[Describe in no more than 80 words in total]:

Mighty Radio is for the residents of the town Southport and surrounding villages. It offers a local

service, giving local residents information of direct relevance to themselves and their town as well

as the opportunity to contribute to and determine the station’s output.

The service broadcasts:

• Music. The music broadcast over the course of each week ranges from the 1960s to the present day. Specialist music programmes also feature.

• Speech: The main types of speech output broadcast over the course of each week are: local traffic reports, what’s on information, local business news and advice, interviews, and local sports reports.

• The service provides original output for a minimum of 7 hours per day.

• The service provides locally-produced output for a minimum of 13 hours per day.

• The studio is located within the licensed coverage area.

• The service provides a range of community benefits (social gain objectives mandated by statute) for the target community, both on-air and off-air, and in doing so, achieves the following objectives;

• The facilitation of discussion and the expression of opinion.

• The provision (whether by means of programmes included in the service or otherwise) of education or training to individuals not employed by the person providing the service and

• The better understanding of the particular community and the strengthening of links within it. Members of the target community contribute to the operation and management of the service. The service has mechanisms in place to ensure it is accountable to its target community.

The studio is located within the licensed coverage area.

The service provides a range of community benefits (social gain objectives mandated by statute)

for the target community, both on-air and off-air, and in doing so, achieves the following objectives:

• the facilitation of discussion and the expression of opinion,

• the provision (whether by means of programmes included in the service or otherwise) of education or training to individuals not employed by the person providing the service, and

• the better understanding of the particular community and the strengthening of links within it.

Members of the target community contribute to the operation and management of the service.

The service has mechanisms in place to ensure it is accountable to its target community.

About your organisation:

9. Company details Guidance Notes

The legislation requires that:

• Community radio services should not be provided primarily for commercial reasons or for the financial or other material gain of the body providing the service or the individuals involved in it

• Any profits produced may only be used to either improve the future provision of the service or for the delivery


of social gain to members of the public or the target community

Provide the name of the body corporate (e.g. company) submitting this application and the type of body corporate.

Please provide copies of the company’s Memorandum, Articles of Association and Certificate of Incorporation (or, where it is another type of body corporate, its founding documents and those which set out its objectives and rules of operation)

Only a body corporate can hold a community radio licence. A body corporate is almost always a (registered) company, although it can also include, for example, some bodies created by statute (an individual or a registered charity on its own is not a body corporate).

Your application must therefore be submitted on behalf of a registered company (or other body corporate). There are different types of company (e.g. a company limited by shares, a community interest company, a company limited by guarantee) and we need to know what kind of company is applying for a licence.

We will not consider a licence award to a company if it has not yet been registered. If the application is successful the licence will be awarded to the body corporate (e.g. company) submitting this application.

Company (or other body corporate) name: Mighty Radio Limited

Date of registration: 14/10/2013

Company registration number: 08730344

Type of company (or other body corporate): Private Ltd by Guarantee

Where your body is not a company, please explain how it meets the requirement to be a body corporate:

N/A

10. Ownership Guidance Notes

Please provide details of who controls and who owns the body corporate (e.g. company) applying for this licence, and on what basis this control and ownership is achieved. (If this will be different once the station starts broadcasting please say so (a licence is not issued until broadcasting starts.)

The information provided must include:

• all the subscribers, members, shareholders, or whatever is appropriate for the applicant company (or body corporate), and state the extent of their interest (e.g. % shareholding) (if the company will be controlled by members, but the members are not yet recruited, please say so). (You will also be asked about the board of directors in 11 & 12 below.)

• details of any individual, company or other body that may exert control over the applicant.

Ofcom needs to know about the ownership of the company (or other body corporate) applying for this licence, and any issues regarding its control. We will also consider how the company (or body corporate) will be run (this will usually be specified in the Articles of Association of the company).

In relation to exerting control over the applicant, the information provided should include the name and address of any individuals or corporate bodies in accordance with whose wishes the applicant’s affairs are or will be conducted in most cases or in significant respects.

The Body Corporate is Mighty Radio Limited, which is a not for profit, Private Company Limited by

Guarantee. It consists of 4 Directors and 5 members of a management committee. Of the 4 directors,

one is appointed Managing / Station Director and one as Chairman.

Ability to maintain the service:

11. Management and operations Guidance Notes

With regard to the applicant please provide:

• A list of directors, indicating who is the managing director and/or chair (please see question 12 regarding directors’ details).

In addition to the notes above on ownership, Ofcom is also required to evaluate the human resources involved in the running of a community radio station. Answers should demonstrate how those who have relevant experience will work for the station. In addition, a


• An indication of management structure (e.g. management committee or equivalent, if applicable), and/or

• Information about who would be responsible for the day to day management and running of the station (there is a separate question regarding other staff below). Explain the role(s) in the station, job titles, and indicate whether paid or voluntary, full or part-time (and the number of hours).

diagram or organisation chart may help paint a clearer picture.

The Company Directors of Mighty Radio Limited are;

Mr Trevor Ford – Station & Managing Director.

Mr David Quinn – Chairman.

Mr Mark Phillips – Director – Estates.

Mr Jon Metcalfe – YMCA.

Members of the Company are the above as well as the following;

Mr Chris Strefford.

Mr Paul Tasker.

Mr Sean Connolly.

Mr Martin Hovden.

Mr David Richardson

All the above form Mighty Radio’s management team.

The Station Management role will be ultimately assumed by the Station Director and will be assisted

by two of the management team on a part time, part paid freelance basis. The Station & Managing

Director will assume the most hours of responsibility, and we envisage this to be around 30 per week.

Their support would assume around 10 hours each per week.

Professional advice and guidance relating to IT, broadcast studio engineering and programme

consultancy will come from Radio Station Solutions Limited. This has been offered in the first instance

as a gesture of friendship.

Transmission planning, installation and commissioning liaison will be procured from P Godley.

12. Management and operations Guidance Notes

Please provide information regarding each director as set out below (some or all of which may be regarded as confidential).

In addition if any individuals have been identified for management roles at the proposed station, please give further information in this section.

Answer (for each director):

Ofcom needs to know about the proposed directors and chair of the applicant. Some or all of the information given in this section will usually be removed from the publicly available copy of this application form. (All community radio applications forms will be made available on our website.) If you request that any information be removed, please indicate which (and why by email to [email protected]).

Trevor Ford – Managing and Station Director.

Employment: Self-employed business owner and actor / entertainer

Other directorships: None

Relevant experience or qualifications:

Trevor has been engaged with the town for over 30 years. He has been an active member of the business community for most of this time, splitting his professional life between managing leisure facilities and working in the entertainment industry. Between 2007 and 2011 he was also a member of


the programming department at Dune FM – in both an on air and front of house external capacity.

Key skills and attributes / experience;

• Business management. • Broadcast systems and integration. • Front of house presentation, both on and off air. • Mighty Radio’s Managing & Station Director since inception in 2012.

David Quinn – Chairman.

Employment: Managing Director



(…) He launched his current company (SES Ltd) in 1992 and now supplies security solutions to many government bodies and national blue chip clients across the UK and Ireland. SES Ltd employs over 800 staff in Southport and turns over £15 Million annually. David also enjoys the benefit of being involved in many charities, and has compared many huge fund raisers across the north west. He is chairman of his local fishing club and was the youngest chair of St Teresa’s club in Southport for many years. He has been involved in Radio for most of his adult life and considers himself very lucky to be the provider of security to the BBC, including Radio 1 Radio 2 all outside broadcasts for BBC news. Radio is certainly a passion and David is committed to bringing a first-class community station to Southport. David has worked very hard to allow himself to be financially successful and hopes via community radio, this success will give something back to the town by making Mighty Radio a huge success story.


• National business leadership skills. • Local relevant business knowledge. • Personally, well known in the town. • Passion and enthusiasm for Southport.

Mark Phillips – Director.

Employment: Business owner



Mark has spent most of his working life in property management, but has an immense passion for the entertainment industry. He was educated in Sefton and loves to offer his support, advice and positivity to the other directors and members of Mighty Radio. Outside of having a keen eye for everything property related (including our studio building works) he’s a keen rock fan and guitarist who fronts our “Mighty Rock” show. Like David (above) Mark’s personal and financial success has been brought about through hard work and diligence. He hopes very much to be able to assist Mighty Radio in securing a full-time community radio license and therefore realising his passion to bring a local radio station back to his favourite town.


• Professional business planning. • Estates building, planning regulation and management. • Legal – conveyancing. • Promotion of local music scene.

Jon Metcalfe – Director.

Employment: Director of Services – YMCA.




Jon is currently Director of Services for YMCA Liverpool and is the strategic lead for the organisations mental health accommodation services and domestic abuse services. He is also the strategic and operational lead for YMCA Sefton, overseeing the development and management of the Southport early years’ day nursery and a health, community and well-being centre within the YMCA building where the new Mighty Radio studio’s will be based.


• Community focused and strategic alliance skillset. • Organisation skills. • A deep understanding of the needs of children and young people. • Challenging social stereotyping.

Chris Strefford – Management committee member.

Employment: Retired Teacher

Other directorships: N/A


(…) He spent his entire teaching career here on the North-West coast so truly considers himself to be part of the community in Southport. In his spare time, Chris also supports the broadcast team at Wirral Radio and Halton Community Radio respectively.


• Pragmatism. • Working knowledge of the education system in the borough. • Front line broadcast skills. • Analytical mind.

Paul Tasker - Management committee member.

Employment: TV and Audio Producer.



Paul worked for the Local Radio Company, learning his craft between 2001 and 2008. He oversaw all the audio output for TLRC stations in the North West, including 2BR, Dune FM, The Rocket and 106.9 Silk FM. He has a fantastic ear for creative sound and hopes that the addition of Mighty Radio on FM will allow him to assist in station sound modelling in his home town. In addition to his daytime role at the Liverpool Cruise Channel, he adds his professional production skill to Zest DAB radio in Liverpool. Paul is fully versed in the latest Ofcom rules and regulations governing commercial messages within audio production and output, and regularly converses with industry bodies such as the RAB and ASA.


• Professional knowledge of the broadcast sector. • Local awareness of the value of Southport and its hinterland. • Previous broadcast experience in an ILR / Sallie setting, within the proposed TSA. • Advanced multimedia production skills.

Sean Connolly - Management committee member.

Employment: Health and Safety Manager



Sean spent 8 years working as a Health and safety manager contracted to Liverpool city council. The work consisted of all aspects of council health and safety issues and he assisted a in a wide range of


inner city associated H&S requirements for the City of Culture.

[…] Sean spent 2 years with Glendale managed services as performance and evaluation manager and Training manager. He joined Workman Facilities Management Limited as Health and Safety Advisor in May 2010.

Advising on Health & safety in the firms Manchester office, Sean is committed to risk management and compliance and policing the company management systems on a regular basis. Assisting staff with the firm’s policies and procedures and H&S compliance are a high priority as is internal occupational Safety & Health and external property management and building consultancy practices

Sean is an author and is currently writing his fifth paperback book. He has also completed 6 children’s books and seven E-books which are available on the world-wide web.


• Excellent local knowledge. • Health and safety specialist. • Enhanced Facilities Management specialist. • Known local author.

Martin Hovden - Management committee member.

Employment: Freelance Journalist.



Martin has been a qualified journalist for 46 years. He also edited the Southport, Formby, Maghull, Ormskirk, Skelmersdale Champion series of local newspaper titles. Previous to that, he held the position of Editor for the Liverpool Weekly Newspaper Group and the Wirral Globe. Martin loves getting involved in the management of other organisations too and enjoyed his time as Chair of the Liverpool Publicity Association and the New Brighton Community Association. He now lends his support and professional experience to Mighty Radio as a seasoned journalist and editor.


• Huge experience within the local news scene. • Contacts book bursting with information. • Organisation and professional discretion. • Well versed in “not for profit” business protocol and social gain initiatives.

David Richardson - Management committee member.

Employment: TV Producer.



David is currently employed on the BBC Series – Doctors, as a Director. His past roles have included directing and producing on such programmes as Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, Shameless, Grange Hill, The Shock of the New & The Celts He has also made music videos with Enya, Ian Dury, The Brodsky and has worked with artists from Barbra Windsor to Dame Judy Dench. Outside of his love for radio and Mighty Radio he is currently developing a film with The Earl of Dudley with a budget in excess of £1 million.


• Broadcast TV and Film production. • Budget planning. • Works well under the pressures of the industry. • Transferrable skills include social media production and management.


Guidance Notes

What is the staffing structure of your proposed radio service? Provide a job title for each position and indicate whether the individual will be paid or will work in a voluntary capacity, will be full or part-time (indicate the number of hours for part-time posts). This may be provided as a diagram or organisation chart.

Answer in fewer than 400 words, plus organisation chart (optional):

The legislation requires that Ofcom has regard to the applicant’s ability to maintain the proposed service (as well as to ensure the applicant is fit and proper to hold the licence). As well as its ownership, management and operations, the proposed staffing of the station is relevant to these considerations.

Mighty Radio will employ the services of a full time Managing / Station Director to oversee the

operation on a modest salary. This individual is already multi-skilled and time served and will be

responsible for all editorial decisions, IT / technical provision, together with commercial traffic

inventory management and music database scheduling / SPI delivery and a weekday daytime

programme.

Two Senior Presenters will be hired on a freelance basis to deliver the weekday breakfast and drive

sequences (up to 20 hours per week). One of the individuals will also assume responsibility as

Training Manager / Website Admin and the other Programme Manager.

The station will enlist and work with P England of Media Excellence in order to maximise the

effectiveness of inventory sales and commercial production.

It has been agreed that Mighty Radio will be able to procure any further facility support direct from

Southport YMCA by way of a charge back facility. This includes the services of the sites cleaning

company and waste disposal.

It will be our aim to further utilise the close working relationship with Martin Hovden to facilitate local

news provision on the station. Currently we have a gentleman’s agreement in place between us and

Martin to share stories of local origin, on air and using social media. In time, Mighty Radio wishes to

increase this provision by means of establishing a dedicated cross-platform news journalist. This

arrangement will naturally be subject to both parties’ further agreements and / or the receipt of funding

to procure professional services.


14. Applicant’s experience Guidance Notes

Please describe the history of your group, and any relevant experience of the group, or the individuals within the group, by answering the questions below.

Ofcom is required to consider whether an applicant has the ability to run a community radio station for the licence period (up to five years). To aid our consideration we want to know about any relevant experience the applicant group as a whole, or the individuals involved, may have.

A. Please provide a brief history of your group.


Mighty Radio came into being when our founder Directors (Trevor Ford, David Quinn and Mark

Phillips) decided that the demise of former station Dune FM had a lasting negative effect on the local

media scene. It was agreed that Mighty Radio (FM) would be set up to trial a new, more community

focused service for the town. The station commenced broadcasting on a one month RSL between

November and December 2012. Support was so strong that during the second quarter of 2013 it

became apparent from the education perspective, community and local business support that a

second RSL was called for. This licence was operated between June and July 2013 and proved to be

an even greater success.

At the end of this broadcast, the directors and management had set their sights on a full time CR

application but decided that in the interim, an online Mighty Radio would be a great incentive to drive

community involvement and brand recognition. This facility was set up soon after the second RSL

was competed and to this day functions as a full time broadcast operation.

Since 2014, online listening has grown to a massive 250,000 minutes per month and consistently

delivers a cumulative audience of over 8000 unique listeners.

Mighty Radio is now involved directly in local schools and young people provision. As detailed above,

the new broadcast centre being built within Southport YMCA will prove to be a massive attraction to

the local community. We believe that there is a bright future ahead for local media and education

partnerships. Both Trevor Ford and Dave Quinn actively support this ethos by spending time with

valued stakeholders in the primary and FE sectors.

Awareness of Mighty Radio is already strong, and on line listening is proving immensely popular.

B. Please summarise the group’s broadcasting experience (e.g. internet radio, Restricted Service Licences (RSLs)).


• Personal – Trevor Ford, David Quinn and Mark Phillips – Dune FM presentation – 2008 – 2011. Paul Tasker – Regional Station Producer - The Local Radio Company PLC.

• Q4 2012 – One Month FM RSL (Covering Christmas in Southport and CR Trial.)

• Q3 2013 – One Month FM RSL (Covering Summer events schedule and CR Trial.)

• Mighty Radio online (www.mightysouthport.co.uk) web and social media – Q3 2013 – present.

C. Please summarise the relevant experience of the group or its members, in relevant non-broadcast areas (such as third sector, local business, fund-raising, training or education).


• Trevor Ford – Local business owner (licensed premises.) Trevor has spent his entire professional life here in Southport we he has undertaken management of licensed retail and property. He shares ownership of a portfolio of rental properties with his brother. Over the past 15 years, both Trevor and David have raised over £20k towards running costs at “Queenscourt” Hospice.

• David Quinn – Managing Director (National security and events company.) Dave, like Trevor hold Southport firmly in his heart and works alongside Trevor to support a myriad of local campaigns. He is responsible for the operation, and effectiveness of over 800 employees at SES & turnover in excess of £15 million.

• Mark Phillips – Managing Director (Real Estate sales) based locally. Mark understands the local market place well and has a keen eye for how re-investment in social gain initiatives helps the entire economy of the


town.

D. Please summarise the radio broadcasting experience of key individuals in the applicant group (only if not already described above).


Please see above.

Evidence of demand:

15. Demand and/or support Guidance Notes

Please provide a summary of evidence of demand and/or support for your proposed service.

This may include a variety of information, for example:

• summary of support from statutory or voluntary sector organisations which expect to contribute practically and/or financially to your operations, or which would expect to collaborate with you in joint activities;

• evidence of interest generated through radio activity (e.g. RSLs, internet radio), community activity, training, voluntary sector work etc.;

• results of research;

• summary of support from local politicians, councils, educational or religious bodies etc.;

• summary of support from local business or other sectors;

• evidence of support from your proposed target community.


When considering community radio licence applications, Ofcom is required to take into account the extent of local demand for, or support for, the provision of the proposed service.

It is for applicants to decide what evidence of demand or support they wish to submit. However, Ofcom does not believe that generic support for the establishment of a new radio service is as meaningful as evidence of considered support for a specific applicant’s proposals. This means that Ofcom does not attach great value to numerous examples of similar generic or form letters of support by your group, or to petitions.

Copies of letters or research reports etc. should not be submitted. However, your response here may include brief relevant extracts from such material and must represent an accurate and comprehensive summary of any such supporting evidence. If we wish to see the source material, we will ask for it.

Currently, Mighty Radio enjoys massive interaction via its online service and social media networks. Over 8000 users per month are sampling and listening for a cumulative average length just shy of 250,000 minutes. This put together with the amount of volunteer support, training and facilitation leads us to believe that Southport truly needs a new voice. Our two RSL stations were greeted superbly and both were outright commercial successes and the online Mighty Radio station continues to grow as a result.

We have worked with many noted and upstanding people within our community including John Parrott MBE, raising money for many charities including his own “Woodlands Hospice” – which he is patron of.

Below are a few extracts of support we have received;

“Southport will benefit greatly from a truly local radio station. The town’s history and heritage needs to be promoted on a local level, so residents continue to appreciate what a wonderful place it is to live, work and play. While we have two dedicated local newspaper titles, we don’t have a dedicated radio station. At present the town has little coverage from BBC Radio Merseyside or commercial operators out of Liverpool and Preston so I really hope the addition of Mighty Radio to the Southport airwaves will enhance and enrich the whole area. I strongly support this application.”

Damien Moore – Member of Parliament for Southport.

“Mighty Radio on FM will provide a much-needed voice to this wonderful community. This station needs to be heard by more than just those who are internet literate.”

J Cunningham MBE – Director of Storm Consultancy & Rosebank Care Home.

“Queenscourt Hospice has been dedicated to supporting the people of Southport, Formby and West Lancashire for over 25 years. As Community Fundraiser for Queenscourt, I was delighted to hear of


Mighty Radio’s application for an FM broadcast licence. They have been great supporters of our charity over the years, through both fundraising and promotion. It would be truly wonderful for ourselves and our community as a whole, to have this fantastic opportunity, as a way of engaging with a broader reach than currently.”

L Smith – Fundraising Co-ordinator – Queenscourt Hospice.

“I fully support and endorse Mighty Radio. For the past couple of years, the team have helped me build a small podcast facility at school for the children to enjoy. We are very much hoping that the addition of Mighty Radio on FM will strengthen this close working partnership and will also enable our pupils to broadcast on air each term as the Mighty School Shout project.”

N Sheeran – Head Teacher, Birkdale Primary School.

“Mighty Radio online keeps me informed on what’s actually happening in my town. While I enjoy knowing about the greater North West news, Mighty just tells me what I want to know. The presenters cheer me up and I really hope the station gets the chance to become part of the furniture of Southport next year.”

B Stafford – Managing Director of Oakwood Construction.

"On behalf of myself and the team, I wish to lend support to Mighty Radio’s application to become the official community radio station for Southport and surrounding area. I hope that it is not too long before we all can tune in to hear the positive benefits local sport brings to this amazing town.”

J Treadwell – Chairman – Southport Football Club.

"The addition of Mighty Radio working alongside us at the church will greatly enhance community cohesion here in Southport. I’ve been a resident of the town for many years. I’m also looking forward to bringing this good news to the parents and pupils of Holy Trinity Primary School.”

Reverend, Cannon R Garner – Parish Cleric of Holy Trinity Church & Governor of Holy Trinity Primary School.

"What can I say? I think Southport deserves a truly local community based radio station. I still can’t believe that a town of this size has been without a voice for so long. Here at Southport Rugby Club, we wish all the best to Mighty Radio and hope that Ofcom see the positives in them that we see in our current association.”

S Olive – Chairman – Southport Rugby Club.

Ability to maintain the service – financial information:

16. Pre-launch financial information

In assessing an applicant’s ability to maintain the service we need to know what funds and assets it holds, how much it intends to spend getting the station on-air (pre-launch expenditure), and predicted funding for the pre-launch period. Please note ‘in-kind’ income is dealt with in 18 below.

✓ Tick this box if you request Ofcom to withhold this information from the public copy of your application.

17. Year 1 financial information - income

Please provide information on the predicted income for your first year of broadcasting. N.B. there is a legislative restriction on income from on-air advertising and sponsorship/commercial references (in summary, each station is allowed a ‘fixed revenue allowance’ of £15,000 per year from paid-for advertising and sponsorship; some stations may also be allowed up to 50% of their total relevant information per year (i.e. disregarding the fixed revenue allowance). See the ‘Invitation of applications for community radio licences’ for your region for further information).


18. Financial information – in-kind support

Please provide totals that reflect the in-kind support you expect to receive for the pre-launch period, and for year one. You may count some volunteer input as in-kind support – please see our guidance on this http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/radio-ops/volunteerinput.pdf

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/radio-ops/volunteerinput.pdf



19. Year 1 financial information – outgoings

Please summarise year 1 outgoings – your expected operational expenditure to cover the first 12 months after the service has commenced broadcasting. (Add rows if necessary).

Tick this box if you request Ofcom to withhold this information from the public copy of your application.

20. Year 1 financial information – commercial activities on air


21. Pre-launch financial information - contingency

If there is a shortfall between pre-launch predicted income and outgoings, please explain below how you would expect to cover any outstanding costs.

Answer in fewer than 150 words and/or submit a summary table:


22. Year 1 financial information - contingency

If there is a shortfall between Year 1 income and Year 1 outgoings, please explain below how you would expect to cover any outstanding costs (see also 23 and 24 below).

Alternatively if there is a surplus at the end of Year 1, please explain what you intend to do with such additional resources.



23. Financial information – loans and other borrowings

If any of your proposed funding (either set-up or operational) is in the form of loans e.g. from directors, individuals or organisations, please provide details as to who the loan is from and the terms of such lending, expected repayment terms, interest rate charged and other associated costs.



24. Financial information – alternative funding streams

If there is a shortfall between income and outgoings, what arrangements have you explored and are in place to provide further financial and/or ‘in-kind’ support for your proposed service?

If you have any proposals for expanding and/or changing the funding model of your proposed service after the first year of operation, please provide details below:



Broadcasting engineering:

Engineering notes

We require preliminary radio frequency (r.f.) engineering information and applicants are advised that this section is not intended to be exhaustive. We are asking for the basic engineering parameters necessary to determine the extent of frequency availability in an applicant’s chosen area (after taking account of the requirements of neighbouring broadcasters); and to determine whether the proposed service area can be adequately served from this site. As a result, applicants should note the importance of identifying a transmission site that is suitable for the area they wish to serve.

While Ofcom would not wish applicants to go to unnecessary expense (we do not guarantee the availability of a suitable frequency and/or our ability to allocate it for broadcasting from the chosen transmission site), we do


require precise details about the transmission site chosen. The questions following relate to this.

Applicants should provide evidence of negotiations or agreement with the site owner (e.g. whether a provisional agreement is in place). Any licence award will be based on the coverage area from the site identified in the application. If a licence is offered, Ofcom may not be able to agree to a change from the site put forward in this application (and any request for a change will need to be justified).

Applicants should read and be aware of the relevant part of the Ofcom Site Engineering Code which may be found at: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/guidance/tech-guidance/eng_code/

25. Engineering information

Waveband: This application is for an FM licence Yes

Do you understand the requirements for FM (VHF) and have you incorporated these below and in, for example, your start-up and other costs, detailed earlier?

Yes

Transmission site address:

What is the postal address and post code: Holy Trinity Church, Manchester Road, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 9DX.

The NGR is a reference code comprising two letters and two groups of three numbers (e.g. SW 123 456). It is available from Ordnance Survey.

SD 342 175

What is the height of the site, in metres, Above Ordnance Datum (AOD)?

13.7 Meters

National Grid Reference (NGR):

In metres, what is the total height of the mast / building Above Ground level (AGL)? 42 Meters

About the site’s dimensions:

What is the height, in metres, of the transmitting antenna AGL?

45 Meters

Please supply photographs of the transmitter mast / building and aerial location.

✓

Who owns the site and what are their full contact details?

Is this site already used for broadcasting and if so by whom?

No

About the transmission site:

Delete as appropriate the yes/no answers which describe your situation regarding proposed site (it may be that you cannot answer all four questions):

Site identified? Yes

Transmission site availability:

Provisional agreement with site owner in place? Yes

Or under negotiation? No

Applicant group owns site? No

Other – please specify.

Applicant group owns site? No

(Note: we cannot consider an application if no site has been identified.)

How to contact you:

26. Public contact details Guidance Notes

Provide the name of the person who will deal with enquiries from the press and public and the contact details for them.

Ofcom will publish community radio licence applications, and from time to time statements which may include public contact details, on its website. A point of contact is required to deal with press and other enquiries from interested parties.

Name: Trevor Anthony Ford

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.mightysouthport.co.uk

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/guidance/tech-guidance/eng_code/

http://www.mightysouthport.co.uk/


27. Contact details for Ofcom Guidance Notes

Provide the name of the person who will be Ofcom’s primary contact and their contact details:

Ofcom will need to contact your group in relation to this application.

PLEASE ENSURE YOU ADVISE OFCOM OF ANY CHANGES TO YOUR CONTACT DETAILS

Concluding declaration:

28. Declaration

APPLICANT’S, DIRECTORS’ AND OWNERS’ OTHER INTERESTS

1. In relation to the applicant and any body’s and/or individuals whose details are given in sections 11, 12

and 13 of this application, please state whether the applicant, any body or individual is (and if so identify that body or individual) involved in any of the activities set out in the table below, and the extent of the involvement or interest. For these purposes, the applicant includes associates of the applicant (i.e. directors and their associates and other group companies): (Note: if none of the following categories in this section apply, this must be clearly indicated by writing “none” in any appropriate box.)

Activity/involvement By the applicant and/or a shareholder or member

(section 11 of this application form)

By a director

(section 12 of this application form)

a) Local authorities None None

b) Bodies whose objects are wholly or mainly of a political nature, or which are affiliated to such a body

None None

c) Bodies whose objects are wholly or mainly of a religious nature

None None

d) An individual who is an officer of a body falling within (c) above

None None

e) A body corporate which is an associate (as defined in paragraphs 1(1) and 1(1a) of Part I of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Act 1990) or a body falling within (b) or (c) above)

None None

f) An advertising agency or an associate of an advertising agency

None None

g) Other broadcasting interests (including radio, television, satellite and cable broadcasting and allied activities).

Paul Tasker – Liverpool Cruise Channel Producer.

None

Other interests

2. Give details of any other interest or activity of the applicant which is or could be incompatible with the requirements imposed by or under Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Act 1990 (as modified by the Community Radio Order 2004) and Articles 6 and 7 of the Community Radio Order 2004. Please also give details of any other participant in the applicant whose interest is or could be incompatible with those requirements. (You may need to seek advice about these matters)

Answer:

Other matters

3. In pursuance of its duties under Section 86(4) of the Broadcasting Act 1990 (as amended), Ofcom requires that the applicant should notify Ofcom of any matters which might influence Ofcom’s judgement as to whether:

(i) the applicant;

(ii) any director of the applicant;

(iii) any individual, or any director of a company, who will have an interest of 5 per cent or more in the applicant;

may not be considered a 'fit and proper person' to participate in a radio licence. Such matters would include, for example, the following (whether they occurred in the UK or any other country): any unspent criminal conviction, any undischarged insolvency and/or bankruptcy orders, any disqualification from


being a director of a limited company, and any adverse findings made by Ofcom (or its predecessor broadcast regulators), any other regulatory authority and/or any court or tribunal in respect of any regulatory matters.

Answer:

Do you confirm, to the best of your knowledge and belief, that:

4. The applicant is not a disqualified person in relation to the licence by virtue of the provisions of section 143 (5) of the Broadcasting Act 1996 (relating to political objects);

5. The applicant is not otherwise a disqualified person in relation to the licence by virtue of Part II of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Act 1990 or any other rule prohibiting its holding the licence;

6. No director, member or other person involved directly or indirectly in the management of the applicant group is the subject of a disqualification order as defined by section 145 (1) of the Broadcasting Act 1996;

7. No person (body corporate or individual) involved in the application has been convicted within the past five years of an unauthorised broadcasting offence and that the applicant will do all it can to ensure that no person (body corporate or individual) so convicted will be concerned in the provision of the service, the making of programmes included in it, or the operation of the radio station if the applicant is granted a licence; and

8. Any matters which might influence Ofcom's judgement as to whether the directors or members of the applicant group are fit and proper persons to participate in a radio licence have been made to Ofcom.

Applicants should note that Ofcom reserves the right to revoke a licence if at any time any material statement made is found to be false and to have been made by the applicant or any member or officer thereof knowing it to be false, and that in the circumstances of section 144 of the Broadcasting Act 1996, the provision of false information or the withholding of relevant information with the intention of misleading Ofcom could incur a criminal conviction and a disqualification from the holding of a licence.

✓ Please tick this box to confirm that the applicant agrees with the above statements.

Please tick the boxes below to indicate which additional documentation is included as part of this application. We are not willing to accept additional information with this application, other than that set out below:

✓ Memorandum & Articles of Association

✓ Certificate of Incorporation

✓ Application Payment (UK £ 600.00) non-returnable

✓ Photographs of the transmitter mast / building and aerial location.

I hereby apply to Ofcom for the grant of a community radio licence and declare that the information given in this application and any additional documentation is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, correct.

Trevor Ford (Name of person)

Managing Director (Title or position in the applicant group)

25/07/2017 (Date)

1. station name guidance notes 2. community to be served … · 2017. 8. 31. · hillside,...

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