According to a report in Britain’s Guardian newspaper, one of Britain’s biggest media groups has warned that today’s radio ownership concessions could prove a “Pyrrhic victory” for the industry if Ofcom’s regulatory role in regulation is not clarified.

Kiss FM owner Emap joined its rivals in welcoming the proposed changes to the impending UK Communications Bill, which would allow each local radio area to have just two commercial radio stations plus the BBC, as opposed to the original ‘three plus one’ formula. But the company warned that the role Ofcom will play in radio mergers was still unclear.

“What we really want to know is how will Ofcom behave as a competition regulator,” said the chief executive of Emap Performance. Capital Radio, owner of London’s biggest station and Capital Gold stations, said the changes paved the way for further industry consolidation.