CitySickness
Well-Known Member
15th March 2005 from the Irish Independent
Geldof firm wins right to challenge radio licence ruling
The Bob Geldof-backed company which failed to secure the licence to operate an alternative rock music radio station in the Dublin area yesterday got leave from the High Court to challenge the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland's (BCI) decision.
The BCI granted the contract to Phantom FM, which Mr Geldof's company alleged has a history of illegal broadcasting.
Mr Justice John McMenamin gave Scrollside Ltd, trading as ZED FM, leave to seek, by way of judicial review, an order quashing the BCI decision to award the licence to Dublin Rock Radio Ltd, trading as Phantom FM.
Brian O'Moore SC, for Scrollside Ltd, said the competition for the contract ultimately became a two-horse race between ZED FM and Phantom FM.
He claimed that Phantom FM had been operating in clear breach of broadcasting legislation between 1998 and 2003.
Mr O'Moore said his clients believed that throughout the entire selection process there seemed to have been an unfair bias for Phantom FM - that BCI was predisposed to that applicant even before the advert for the contest.
Counsel for ZED FM said that the preference shown to Phantom FM also resulted in the unfair granting of temporary licences by the BCI.
Mr O'Moore said his clients had only recently become aware of these irregularities which had the effect of tilting the playing field in favour of Phantom FM for the eventual licence in dispute.
Geldof firm wins right to challenge radio licence ruling
The Bob Geldof-backed company which failed to secure the licence to operate an alternative rock music radio station in the Dublin area yesterday got leave from the High Court to challenge the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland's (BCI) decision.
The BCI granted the contract to Phantom FM, which Mr Geldof's company alleged has a history of illegal broadcasting.
Mr Justice John McMenamin gave Scrollside Ltd, trading as ZED FM, leave to seek, by way of judicial review, an order quashing the BCI decision to award the licence to Dublin Rock Radio Ltd, trading as Phantom FM.
Brian O'Moore SC, for Scrollside Ltd, said the competition for the contract ultimately became a two-horse race between ZED FM and Phantom FM.
He claimed that Phantom FM had been operating in clear breach of broadcasting legislation between 1998 and 2003.
Mr O'Moore said his clients believed that throughout the entire selection process there seemed to have been an unfair bias for Phantom FM - that BCI was predisposed to that applicant even before the advert for the contest.
Counsel for ZED FM said that the preference shown to Phantom FM also resulted in the unfair granting of temporary licences by the BCI.
Mr O'Moore said his clients had only recently become aware of these irregularities which had the effect of tilting the playing field in favour of Phantom FM for the eventual licence in dispute.
