UK media regulator OfCom has released details of which FM licences are up for renewal in the next eighteen months. Despite the growth of digital, FM remains the primary platform for radio in the UK of course, though some would argue FM licences will become less valuable in the next decade as use of DAB, via-TV and online radio services continue to grow, so it will be interesting to see how many new rival bidders there are for these licences.
Most of the 25 odd licences up for renewal are for smaller local stations, though Bauer's East England wide Kiss FM licence and GMG's North West wide Century licences will be among those re-advertised. I think I'm right in saying that whether or not the current licence-holder gets any preference depends on the nature of their existing licence.