Licence Application Procedures?

Riamfada

This may sounds mental but just interested . Whats the process for applying for a full time commercial licence? What exactly do you need to show the BCI? Finance? Planning? Demographic study? How often are they given ? Why then do some stations go pirate rather then applying for Temporary licences for 200 quid?

Cheers
G

jb91

You should find that kind of stuff on www.bci.ie.

I'd say the smaller stations don't bother with temp licenses because they have to provide a certain amount of each type of programme and they only allow them broadcast for 30 days every year. Also temporary stations have to provide some kind of useful service, eg community information etc which these dance pirates don't.

More Music

For a commercial licence you will need around €70,000 to create an application. You need to pay for market/programming research, engineering consultant, legal, accountants and somebody to design the layout of the application. You then need to professionally print around 30 copies and submit an application fee to the BCI.

If you fail you won't see any of that money again.

Commercial licences are only given out after they have been advertised, you cannot just ring the BCI and say I have an idea for radio station - any chance of a licence (although they did have public consultation process a few years ago).

Temporary license can be sought but as already pointed out these are limited to 30 days. Some stations operate these only at the weekends, therefore getting 15 weekends out a licence.

Either way you'll need financial backing and most commercial and all temporary licences have some big community head involved on the board or in management (GAA county boards, community groups etc.).

Hope that helps.

Riamfada

70k Eeep. Thanks for the info