So, did you get your bid in for the new Liverpool FM licence? Well, you're too late if you didn't because the deadline was yesterday. All the usual suspects have bid for the licence.
EMAP, who already dominate the local radio spectrum on Merseyside with their Radio City and Magic 1548 outlets, hope that they can win the support of OfCom and get themselves a third licence by promising a speech based station - CityTalk - which would provide a mix of conversation, news, sports, current affairs, comedy and local issues. Keen to convince us all that this speech station would not turn out to be like most other commercial talk stations - ie, 24 hour phone ins - EMAP say CityTalk would "offer intriguing insider views, local comment, around-the-world insight, and in-depth commentary on the biggest stories of the day alongside the most pressing local issues". EMAP bosses also say that students at Liverpool's John Moores University would be involved in producing some of their shows.
Chrysalis are bidding to put their digital rock station The Arrow on the terrestrial airwaves in Liverpool, claiming they will showcase the city's musical talent. They have Beatles producer George Martin backing their bid. The Guardian quote Chrysalis' Daniel Owen as saying: "We are delighted to have Sir George's support for a quality rock station which will also serve to promote both established and emerging music talent in Liverpool, Europe's Capital of Culture in 2008. Our bid will offer a significant new mainstream radio format and broaden choice for music lovers in Liverpool."
And talking of the Guardian - their radio division are also bidding with a proposed station called RockTalk, which would offer speech radio by day, and rock based music programming by night. Super.