Government awards new radio programme licences
On 15 November 2018 the Government granted licences for radio broadcasting in analogue terrestrial mass communications network.
The new licence period will start from the beginning of 2020. The operating licences will remain in force for ten years.
"The focus in the licence decisions has been on continuity and capacity for long-term business operations. The aim has also been to provide opportunities for new operators. For radio listeners this shows as an even more versatile supply," says Minister of Transport and Communications Anne Berner.
"The licences were awarded for the maximum period permitted by law and there are hardly any detailed licence terms. These measures were taken to create a stable and predictable business environment," Minister Berner says.
In the application round that ended in July 2018, all programme licences for licensed analogue radio broadcasting were open for applications. If there is not enough frequency capacity for all applicants or if the licence decision has a significant effect on the general development of the communications market, the decision on the licences is made by the Government.
For the frequencies with only applicant, the licence decision was made by the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority.
Current licence situation remains largely unchangedWithin the national framework, the licence situation remains largely unchanged and the current operators can continue their activities. Due to scarcity in the frequencies, no licence could be granted to six applicants.
Also new frequencies were open for applications, including frequency 13 that comprises Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Lahti, Oulu, Tampere, Turku and Vaasa. A licence for this frequency block was granted to Businessradio Finland Oy.
A new operator in the Greater Helsinki area will be Mediatakojat that received two licences. Along with these licences the operations of Mediatakojat will cover almost the entire country.
Activities of Livelaboratory (Radio Helsinki) will expand into the regions of Oulu and Tampere
Newspaper and magazine companies are expanding into radio broadcasting. Etelä-Suomen Media Oy received licences for Pirkanmaa and Helsinki and Keski-Suomen Media Oy was awarded a licence for Jyväskylä. Both companies are part of the Keskisuomalainen group, a media publisher.
Terms concerning the programme content were set only for specialised radios: Radio Dei of Kristillinen Media Oy; Finest Plus of Finest Plus FM, Radio Classic of Kuunappi Oy and Radio Moreeni of the University of Tampere.
Licences awarded by the GovernmentFrequency block 1 Bauer Media Oy
Frequency block 2 Bauer Media Oy
Frequency block 3 NRJ Finland Oy
Frequency block 4 Sanoma Media Finland Oy
Frequency block 5 Sanoma Media Finland Oy
Frequency block 6 Sanoma Media Finland Oy
Frequency block 7 Kristillinen Media Oy
Frequency block 8 Sanoma Media Finland Oy
Frequency block 9 Kuunappi Oy
Frequency block 10 Basso Media Oy
Frequency block 11 NRJ Finland Oy
Frequency block 12 Bauer Media Oy
Frequency block 13 Businessradio Finland Oy
Frequency block 14 Mediatakojat Oy
Frequency block 16 Radio Kajaus Oy
Frequency block 17 Bauer Media Oy
Frequency block 18 Bauer Media Oy
Frequency block 19 Patmos Lähetyssäätiö
Frequency block 20 Livelaboratorio Oy
Frequency block 21 Mediatakojat Oy
Frequency block Kuopio-Iisalmi 1 Kevyt Kanava Oy
Frequency block Kuopio-Iisalmi 2 Suomen Lähiradiot Oy
Frequency block Mikkeli 1 Kevyt Kanava Oy
Frequency block Mikkeli 2 Mediatakojat Oy
Frequency block Savo 1 Kevyt Kanava Oy
Frequency block Jyväskylä 1 Keski-Suomen Media Oy
Frequency block Kotka-Kouvola 1 Kaasilansalmi Oy
Frequency block Rovaniemi 1 Lapin Klubi ry
Frequency block Pirkanmaa 1 Radio SUN Oy
Frequency block Pirkanmaa 3 Bauer Media Oy
Frequency block Pirkanmaa 4 Etelä-Suomen Media Oy
Frequency block Tampere 1 University of Tampere
Frequency block Tampere 2 Radio SUN Oy
Frequency block Tampere 3 Pispalan Musa Oy
Frequency block Tampere 4 Pispalan radioyhdistys ry
Frequency block Tampere 5 Kevyt Kanava Oy
Frequency block Pohjanmaa 1 Kevyt Kanava Oy
Frequency block Pohjanmaa 2 Bauer Media Oy
Frequency block Pohjanmaa 3 Nordic Palvelu Oy
Frequency block Pori 1 Mediatakojat Oy
Frequency block Pori 2 Alueradiot Sastamala Oy
Frequency block Rauma 2 Marva Media Oy
Frequency block Helsinki 1 Etelä-Suomen Media Oy
Frequency block Helsinki 2 Kansan Radioliitto - Folkets radioförbund ry
Frequency block Helsinki 3 Finest Plus FM
Frequency block Helsinki 4 Basso Media Oy
Frequency block Helsinki 5 Sanoma Media Finland Oy
Frequency block Helsinki 6 Sanoma Media Finland Oy
Frequency block Helsinki 7 Mediatakojat Oy
Frequency block Helsinki 8 Mediatakojat Oy
Frequency block Helsinki-Kotka Basso Media Oy
Frequency block Porvoo 1 Radio Foni Oy
Frequency block Turku 1 Turun Lähiradioyhdistys ry
Frequency block Turku 4 Basso Media Oy
Frequency block Turku 5 Turun Paikallisradio Oy
Inquiries:Meri-Maaria Moilanen, Legal Counsel, tel. +358 295 34 2058, Twitter @merimoilanen
Olli-Pekka Rantala, Director-General, tel. +358 50 344 34, Twitter @op_rantala
Government plenary session 15 November 2018 [In Finnish]
Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority - Tajuuskokonaisuudet 2020 [In Finnish]
Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority - Radion ohjelmistotoimiluvat 2020 [In Finnish]