The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland is planning a review of its policy on ownership and control of commercial radio stations. It has also introduced an interim limit on the number of licences that can be held by one company.
The review, which will start in March, will involve public consultation, and the new policy will come into effect late next year.
The BCI said the review was likely to include an examination of the current policy and whether the aims of plurality, diversity and local ethos were being met. It would also include an update on policy developments in other countries.
The commission said a degree of concentration had taken place in the last three years, and it had decided to revise one element of its existing policy pending completion of the review.
Its existing policy states that a number equivalent to 15% or less of the total number of commercial services licensed would likely to be an acceptable level for any one investor, while a number between 15% and 25% would need more careful consideration, and a number above 25% would be unacceptable.
The revision reduces the 25% level to 17.9%, which is the maximum held by any one investor at the moment.
During the last three years, companies such as Scottish Radio Holdings and UTV have made a number of acquisitions in the Irish radio market.
