The deadline has passed for applications for the new radio licence that is being made available in the Nort East. The Guardian reports that as many as 20 companies may have applied. Most of the big players are represented - GCap are looking for another outlet for Xfm while Chrysalis want to give their digital rock station The Arrow a terrestrial output. TV firm Celador are proposing an 'over-45s' station called Touch FM, while Saga and another bid backed by the Local Radio Company also want to launch stations for the region's older listeners. Former EMAP exec Tim Schoonmaker is leading a bid backed by Australian bank Macquarie with another rock based proposal - Diamond FM. Other foreign players keen to get a share of the UK radio industry, Emmis and Canwest, are thought to have placed bids, while Ulster TV are bidding to launch a talk station. The Guardian Media Group have, for reasons best known to themselves, put in two bids - one to launch a split format station which would be talk by day and classic rock by night, another to launch a third branch of its Smooth FM brand. The other big player, EMAP, wasn't allowed to bid because it operates the other main commercial station in the area, Metro Radio. OfCom should decide who is getting the licence in about three months.
Dec 9, 2005
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1 min read
Deadline passes for North East radio licence
Around 20 companies reportedly applied for the new North East radio licence, including GCap, Chrysalis, Celador and the Guardian Media Group, with OfCom due to decide in about three months.