The next big bid in the radio world is Manchester. With OfCom going through the motions of raffling off (I mean, carefully selecting the best options for) the remaining analogue radio licences around the UK, bidding for the Manchester licence begins today. With a potential ad value of £20 million to be made, most of the key radio players are expected to bid for the licence.
EMAP are reportedly keen to spread their Kerrang! Station, now analogue in Birmingham, into the North West. Capital are hoping to get Xfm its second full time analogue licence in a city that definitely identifies with the alternative station's musical remit. The Guardian Media Group want to set up Channel M Radio, a news and sport station for the city - something that might benefit from GMG's ownership of the Manchester Evening News (though OfCom might see that more as a negative!).
All three groups already operate stations in Manchester - Key 103, Century and Smooth FM respectively. Whether that will go against any of the major groups remains to be seen - independent players have until next Feb to get their bids together.