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‘EXITE’ ING TIMES FOR LOCAL RADIO

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Kevin Reardon / 2012-09-23 11:47:14

Much has been written in recent days about the closure of one English Language radio station and the impending threat to others.

Most of it is absolute rot and quite why individuals or organisations would want to spread such alarm amongst the expatriate community, when so many of us simply want to integrate and enjoy our lives here in Spain, seems to be completely irresponsible, so perhaps we should explain to those of you who really want to know the facts rather than negligent gossip, just what is going on within the domain of Radio Licensing here in the Valencian Community.

In November 2011, all radio stations, representing all languages and all of the different parts of the community, were made aware of the fact that there would be a "Concurso" or "competition" for FM licenses within the Valencian community.  A well established national lawfirm was appointed to coordinate all of the applications.

As part of the bidding process applicants were required to submit a complete business plan showing details of the current and proposed operation together with technical data and an outline of their intended future investment.

There were in excess of 462 bids submitted for the licences by 115 companies of which 121 bids were accepted. Following additional investigation a further 6 were later rejected. The list of those successful companies was then published by the lawyers in May.

It included "JAL INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL INVESTMENTS, S.L." in position 17 which "operates" EXITE RADIO. Other English-language applicants include Spectrum FM, Talk Radio Europe, and Bay Radio. 

It is not known which other local English Language stations are on the list as they will have applied in the name of their Spanish Registered or Parent Company so they are not recognisable under their broadcasting name, but sources suggest that there are only two.

The procedure that is now being carried out by the Valencian community does not represent anything new, nor is it aimed at any particular part of the community.

It is simply the government’s attempt to tidy up and rationalise an area that is completely out of control, so much so that here on the Costa Blanca South one radio station, no longer broadcasting, was actually transmitting over frequencies in use by the Emergency Services, so it is no wonder that the region has now decided to clean up the airwaves.

It seems only right that those radio stations that have not made any attempt to legalise their operations should be closed down.

As well as applying for a license to broadcast in the Valencian Community Exite Radio also has an ongoing application currently under consideration in Murcia.

In view of some of the nonsense recently published here on the Costa Blanca, on social networking sites, local internet forums and in the local media, never has the quote “Don't believe everything that you read in the newspapers,” been nearer the mark!