B. Non-Commercial licence allocation for regional television

Non-commercial licences are provided without charge to a number of regional broadcasters. These are granted by MED, on the advice of MCH which monitors compliance with licence conditions.

General criteria for a non-commercial licence are that broadcasters:

• are locally-based, non-network services which demonstrate a strong geographic, social or cultural affinity with the target audience;
• focus on the needs and interests of the audiences they serve;
• broadcasts fulfil a priority community need (as defined in the above framework);
• do not duplicate existing services;
• provide access for local and regional programme makers;
• operate on a charitable or 'not-for-profit' basis;
• have the technical and financial capacity to fulfil the broadcasting outcomes sought;
• have a fundraising mechanism allowing them to function with no more than six minutes of commercials per clock hour and no more than 50 per cent of revenue derived from advertising. (Sponsorship is permitted);
• include a level of locally generated programming with a focus on previously unmet needs and interests of viewers and include some or all of the following content from within the coverage area:
  • local news, information, stories and history;
  • discussion of community issues, including political processes;
  • programming aimed to inform, entertain and involve a specified or under-served local community or communities of interest.
    

All non-commercial licences expire in March 2010. MCH will make offers for renewal on a transitional basis to non-commercial licence holders, who meet specified criteria, until DSO.