Global Radio / GMG merger inquiry

The Competition Commission has decided that Global Radio Holdings Limited must sell radio stations in seven areas of the UK following its completed acquisition of Real and Smooth Limited (formerly GMG Radio Holdings Limited).

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 20 May 2014

• Case type: Mergers
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Communications
• Outcome: Mergers - phase 2 clearance with remedies
• Opened: 11 October 2012
• Closed: 22 May 2013

Administrative timetable

• Published on 31 October 2012, as required by Rule 6 of the Competition Commission Rules of Procedure. Any further revisions made to the timetable will be published on this website.

Date	Action
11 October 2012	Merger reference made
Mid October to Early November	Gathering information, issuing questionnaires, third party hearings
Mid November	Publish statement of issues
Early January 2013	Main party hearings
January	Verifying information, considering provisional findings
11 January	Deadline for all parties’ responses/submissions required before provisional findings
February	Publishing provisional findings
March	Consider possible remedies and response hearing(s)
26 April	Final deadline for all parties’ responses/submissions
May	Publish final report
22 May 2013	Revised statutory deadline

Phase 2

Date of referral: 11.10.12 Statutory deadline: 22.05.13

Contact

Email: [email protected]

Undertakings

• Notice of Undertakings (PDF, 35 Kb) (19.10.12)
• Interim Undertakings (PDF, 100 Kb) (25.10.12)
• Variation to Undertakings (PDF, 127 Kb) (01.02.13)
• Notice of further variation to Undertakings (PDF, 147 Kb) (26.07.13)
• Notice of proposal to accept Final Undertakings (PDF, 127 Kb) (23.12.13)
• Notice of acceptance of Final Undertakings (PDF, 119 Kb) (03.02.14)

Reports

• Lost opportunities survey quality moderator report (PDF, 119 Kb) 11.04.13
• Survey quality moderator report (PDF, 140 Kb) 14.02.13

Responses to provisional findings and notice of possible remedies

• Summary of response on remedies (PDF, 93 Kb) 11.03.13
  • Regional Analysis (PDF, 572 Kb)
  • Advertiser Benefits Annex (PDF, 176 Kb)
  • Listener Benefits Annex (PDF, 282 Kb) 11.03.13
• Response to Provisional Findings Part 1 (PDF, 174 Kb) 11.03.13 and Response to Provisional Findings Part 2 (PDF, 177 Kb) 22.03.13 Annexes (PDF, 3.8 Mb) 22.03.13 Attachments 4.6 to 5.17 (PDF, 13.9 Mb) 22.03.13 Attachments 5.2 to 7.2 (PDF, 10.3 Mb) 22.03.13 Attachments 7.3 to 7.5 (PDF, 9.2 Mb) 22.03.13 Note (PDF, 17 Kb) 22.03.13
  • Response to Survey Quality Moderator Report (PDF, 164 Kb) 14.03.13
• Adventure Radio (PDF, 37 Kb) 17.04.13
• Agency AC (PDF, 13 Kb) 19.03.13
• Agency AD (PDF, 13 Kb) 19.03.13
• Agency AE (PDF, 14 Kb) 19.03.13
• Agency AF (PDF, 14 Kb) 25.03.13
• Agency AG (PDF, 14 Kb) 20.03.13
• Agency AH (PDF, 18 Kb) 20.03.13
• Agency AJ (PDF, 21 Kb) 25.03.13
• Agency AK (PDF, 31 Kb) 25.03.13
• Agency AM (PDF, 40 Kb) 25.03.13
• Agency AN (PDF, 34 Kb) 25.03.13
• Agency AO (PDF, 36 Kb) 25.03.13
• Agency AP (PDF, 23 Kb) 25.03.13
• Agency AQ (PDF, 10 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency AR (PDF, 9 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency AS (PDF, 24 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency AT (PDF, 15 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency AU (PDF, 39 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency AV (PDF, 8 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency AW (PDF, 18 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency AX (PDF, 9 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency AY (PDF, 10 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency AZ (PDF, 9 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency B (PDF, 10 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency BA (PDF, 9 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency BB (PDF, 10 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency BC (PDF, 13 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency BD (PDF, 19 Kb) 11.04.13
• Agency BE (PDF, 8 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency BF (PDF, 13 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency BG (PDF, 9 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency BH (PDF, 17 Kb) 04.04.13
• Agency BI (PDF, 13 Kb) 12.04.13
• Agency BK (PDF, 9 Kb) 15.04.13
• Agency BL (PDF, 13 Kb) 12.04.13
• Agency G (PDF, 16 Kb) 19.03.13
• Agency R (PDF, 22 Kb) 03.04.13
• Agency S (PDF, 13 Kb) 14.03.13
• Agency T (PDF, 13 Kb) 19.03.13
• Agency U (PDF, 24 Kb) 14.03.13
• Agency V (PDF, 18 Kb) 14.03.13
• Agency Y (PDF, 14 Kb) 14.03.13
• Agency Z (PDF, 14 Kb) 14.03.13
• Advertiser B (PDF, 13 Kb) 14.03.13
• Advertiser C (PDF, 514 Kb) 15.03.13
• Advertiser D (PDF, 18 Kb) 15.03.13
• Advertiser E (PDF, 22 Kb) 04.04.13
• Advertiser F (PDF, 19 Kb) 20.03.13
• Advertiser G (PDF, 19 Kb) 20.03.13
• Advertiser H (PDF, 14 Kb) 03.04.13
• An Individual (PDF, 21 Kb) 09.05.13
• Bauer’s comments on Global response to the Notice of Possible Remedies (PDF, 240 Kb) 11.04.13
• Bauer’s response to the notice of possible remedies (PDF, 96 Kb) 05.03.13
• Bauer (PDF, 65 Kb) 08.03.13
• BBC (PDF, 30 Kb) 25.03.13
• Bella Bathrooms (PDF, 51 Kb) 25.03.13
• Benfield Motor Group (PDF, 14 Kb) 14.03.13
• Bluestorm (PDF, 124 Kb) 08.03.13
• Capital FM arena (PDF, 16 Kb) 08.03.13
• Carrington Dean (PDF, 13 Kb) 20.03.13
• Cash Shop (PDF, 15 Kb) 12.04.13
• Christian Broadcasting Council (PDF, 388 Kb) 08.03.13
• Chester Race Course (PDF, 13 Kb) 14.03.13
• City Refrigeration Holdings (PDF, 13 Kb) 08.03.13
• Cleveland Centre (PDF, 18 Kb) 08.03.13
• Colin Kelly (PDF, 14 Kb) 08.03.13
• Competitor B’s response to the notice of possible remedies (PDF, 70 Kb) 05.03.13
• Conway County Borough Council (PDF, 132 Kb) 20.03.13
• Cruden Estates (PDF, 13 Kb) 14.03.13
• Cuffe and Taylor (PDF, 6.9 Mb) 13.03.13
• Derby City Council (PDF, 13 Kb) 12.04.13
• DF Concerts and Events (PDF, 238 Kb) 21.03.13
• Driven Car Sales (PDF, 14 Kb) 10.04.13
• Gold Reserves Ltd (PDF, 15 Kb) 28.03.13
• Grosvenor Centre (PDF, 14 Kb) 08.03.13
• Greater Manchester Public Health Network (PDF, 17 Kb) 20.03.13
• Grainger Games (PDF, 14 Kb) 20.03.13
• Hamilton Park Racecourse (PDF, 17 Kb) 08.03.13
• ISBA (PDF, 60 Kb) 13.03.13
• Individual 1 (PDF, 29 Kb) 20.03.13
• Individual 2 (PDF, 18 Kb) 20.03.13
• Inglewood House Dental Practise (PDF, 39 Kb) 25.03.13
• Insure the Box (PDF, 14 Kb) 12.04.13
• JCT 600 (PDF, 10 Kb) 15.04.13
• John Hogg Funeral Directors (PDF, 14 Kb) 10.04.13
• Leeds City College (PDF, 14 Kb) 08.03.13
• Lynnet Leisure Group Ltd (PDF, 18 Kb) 28.03.13
• Macdonald Hill Valley Spa (PDF, 14 Kb) 08.03.13
• Magnum Packaging (PDF, 9 Kb) 03.04.13
• M & D Leisure (PDF, 13 Kb) 20.03.13
• Media Agency W (PDF, 40 Kb) 13.03.13
• Media Design Agency (PDF, 14 Kb) 08.03.13
• Motor Depot (PDF, 141 Kb) 21.03.13
• MPS Education (PDF, 32 Kb) 25.03.13
• Northwood Cardiff (PDF, 9 Kb) 15.04.13
• OC Bar (PDF, 9 Kb) 03.04.13
• Orion Media (PDF, 35 Kb) 08.03.13
• Peterson Media (PDF, 16 Kb) 08.03.13
• Phoenix Car Company (PDF, 14 Kb) 12.04.13
• PSP Publishing (PDF, 15 Kb) 28.03.13
• Professional Sports Club and Stadium Owner (PDF, 21 Kb) 14.03.13
• Plas Coch Holiday Homes (PDF, 706 Kb) 14.03.13
• RadioCentre (PDF, 83 Kb) 21.03.13
• Rox (PDF, 14 Kb) 08.03.13
• Silverlink Clinics (PDF, 14 Kb) 08.03.13
• Steve Dawson (PDF, 14 Kb) 20.03.13
• Strathclyde Fire and Rescue (PDF, 377 Kb) 21.03.13
• Tafarny y Black Boy Inn (PDF, 17 Kb) 08.03.13
• The Lowry (PDF, 13 Kb) 14.03.13
• The Smile Spa (PDF, 14 Kb) 08.03.13
• TLW Solicitors (PDF, 16 Kb) 08.03.13
• Total Fitness (PDF, 13 Kb) 20.03.13
• Town and Country (PDF, 1.5 Mb) 08.03.13
• UKRD (PDF, 13 Kb) 14.03.13
• Venue Cymru (PDF, 17 Kb) 12.04.13
• We fight any claim.com (PDF, 17 Kb) 25.03.13
• Welsh Government (PDF, 48 Kb) 17.04.13
• West Yorkshire Windows (PDF, 14 Kb) 20.03.13
• Whitehouse Farm Centre (PDF, 179 Kb) 10.04.13
• Yellow Bus events (PDF, 14 Kb) 08.03.13
• YouGov (PDF, 551 Kb) 13.03.13
• Ysgol Bryn Elian High School (PDF, 9 Kb) 15.04.13  

Responses to issues statement

• Issues statement (PDF, 79 Kb) (21.11.12)

• IPA (PDF, 128 Kb) 11.12.12
• ISBA (PDF, 107 Kb) 11.12.12
• Kent Messenger Group (PDF, 1.8 Mb) 20.12.12

Summaries of hearings held with third parties

• Advertiser A (PDF, 31 Kb) 03.01.13
• Bauer Radio (PDF, 51 Kb) 04.01.13
• Belron trading as Autoglass 14.12.12
• British Gas (PDF, 35 Kb) 20.12.12
• Competitor A (PDF, 40 Kb) 21.12.12
• First Radio Sales (PDF, 50 Kb) 02.01.13
• Media Agency A (PDF, 40 Kb) 14.12.12
• Media Agency C (PDF, 44 Kb) 21.12.12
• Media Agency D (PDF, 42 Kb) 10.01.13
• Orion Media (PDF, 48 Kb) 20.12.12
• Town & Country Broadcasting (PDF, 38 Kb) 21.12.12
• UTV Radio (PDF, 42 Kb) 21.12.12

Initial submissions

• Global/RSL Initial Submission (PDF, 622 Kb) 29.11.12
• Annex 1.1 Lost Opportunities Survey RBB analysis (PDF, 627 Kb) 29.11.12
• Annex 1.2 Lost Opportunities Survey results (PDF, 705 Kb) 29.11.12
• Annex 2.1 Existing Customers Survey RBB analysis (PDF, 505 Kb) 29.11.12
• Annex 2.2 Existing Customers Survey results (PDF, 832 Kb) 29.11.12
• Annex 5 - East Midlands coverage area (PDF, 2.2 Mb) 30.11.12
• Annex 6 - North Wales coverage areas (PDF, 6.1 Mb) 30.11.12
• All other annexes are confidential and as such not published here 30.11.12
• An independent media company (PDF, 13 Kb) 08.11.12
• Bauer Media Group
  • Response to Ofcom (PDF, 221 Kb)
  • Submission to the OFT (PDF, 406 Kb)
  • Submission to the Competition Commission (PDF, 78 Kb)
  • Bauer buy around analysis – note on methodology (PDF, 24 Kb) 19.11.12
• BBC Audio & Music (PDF, 146 Kb) 04.12.12
• Competitor A (PDF, 112 Kb) 30.11.12
• Edwina Hart Labour AM, Welsh Government Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science (PDF, 45 Kb) 12.02.13
• Elin Jones, Plaid Cymru AM (PDF, 24 Kb) 30.11.12
• General response S Dawson (PDF, 24 Kb) 30.11.12
• Lincs FM (PDF, 13 Kb) 04.12.12
• Media professional (PDF, 20 Kb) 08.11.12
• Mountain FM (PDF, 382 Kb) 30.11.12
• Orion Media (PDF, 99 Kb) 07.12.12
• RAJAR (PDF, 91 Kb) 04.12.12
• Town & Country Broadcasting Limited (PDF, 223 Kb) 28.11.12
• UKRD Group Ltd (PDF, 58 Kb) 30.11.12

News releases

• CC to investigate radio merger (11.10.12)
• Radio merger issues statement (21.11.12)
• CC provisional decision on radio merger (13.02.13)

Core documents

• Terms of reference (PDF, 17 Kb) (11.10.12)
• Inquiry Group: Simon Polito (Chairman of the Group), Stephen Oram and Roger Witcomb (18.02.14)
• Disclosure of Interest (PDF, 123 Kb)
• Administrative timetable (PDF, 24 Kb) (22.04.13)
• Issues statement (PDF, 79 Kb) (21.11.12)
• Notice of provisional findings (PDF, 41 Kb) (13.02.13)
• Summary of provisional findings report (PDF, 37 Kb) (13.02.13)
• Notice of possible remedies (PDF, 88 Kb) (13.02.13)
• Provisional findings report (PDF, 565 Kb) and Appendices & Glossary (PDF, 2.4 Mb) (15.02.13)
• Notice of extension (PDF, 28 Kb) (21.02.13)
• Final report (PDF, 1.0 Mb) and Appendices and Glossary (PDF, 3.7 Mb) (21.05.13)

Phase 1

Global Radio / GMG Radio

Decisions:

11 October 2012 - Reference

Affected market: Radio advertising

Links: Press release (11 October 2012) Report of the OFT to the Secretary of State of 28 September 2012 (pdf 416kb) Report of the OFT to the Secretary of State of 28 September 2012

Completed acquisition by Global Radio Holdings Limited of Real and Smooth Limited (formerly GMG Radio Holdings Limited)

Affected market: Radio advertising No. ME/5561/12

Referred.

Download the full text of the decision (pdf 433kb)Download the full text of the decision

Published 20 May 2014