The approval sees the Global Radio stations' specialist content requirement cut by half from 26 hours a week of 'identifiable specialist music programmes' to 12.

Upon making the format change requests to the regulator, however, Global Radio said that approval would not substantially alter the character of the stations' service overall because specialist programming is broadcast outside of daytime when audiences are relatively low.

"Specialist music is now also much more widely available to listeners through other media, particularly online, ...