NEWS: OFCOM TO LICENSE 13 NEW LOCAL COMMERCIAL FM RADIO STATIONS DURING 2005 by GRANT GODDARD

www.grantgoddard.co.uk January 2005

Ofcom has announced plans to advertise thirteen new FM radio licences during 2005, including two regional-type stations in Swansea and Solent. Solent is classed as a 'larger' licence that will be advertised in February 2005, covering an area smaller than that of existing regional station Wave 105, from Bournemouth to Portsmouth on 106.0 and 106.6 FM. The signal is likely to have deficiencies in northern parts of Southampton, Eastleigh, Chandlers Ford and Romsey. Torbay is classed as a 'smaller' licence that will be advertised in February 2005, and will also cover Dartmouth, Newton Abbot, Teignmouth and Totnes in a service area similar to that of the existing Gemini 96.4 FM, using up to 1,600 watts ERP. Swindon is a 'smaller' licence that will be advertised in March 2005 and will give additional coverage of Cricklade, Highworth, Purton, Wootton Bassett and Wroughton. The service area will not be as extensive as the existing GWR station on 97.2 FM, and will use 200 watts ERP. Barrow-in-Furness is a 'smaller' licence that will be advertised in April 2005 and additionally cover Dalton-in-Furness and Millom, but not Ulverston, with 200 watts ERP. Swansea is a 'larger' licence to be advertised in May 2005 that will additionally cover Bury Port, Llanelli, Neath, Port Talbot and the eastern part of the Mumbles peninsular. The service area will be slightly bigger than that achieved by Classic FM (101.3) and Real Radio (106.0) from the Kilvey Hill transmission site and will use 102.1 FM. Northallerton is a 'smaller' licence to be advertised in April 2005 that will also cover Thirsk, but not Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough or Ripon, with 200 watts ERP. Ipswich is a 'smaller' licence to be advertised in June 2005 that will additionally cover Woodbridge and Felixstowe, but not Clacton, Colchester, Sudbury, Stowmarket, Diss, Halesworth or Southwold, with 2,000 watts ERP on 102.0 FM. Warwick is a 'smaller' licence that will be advertised in July 2005 and will also cover Leamington Spa and Kenilworth, but not Coventry or Stratford-uponAvon, using 200 watts ERP on 107.3 FM. Shrewsbury is a 'smaller' licence to be advertised in August 2005 that will also cover Owestry and parts of Telford and Whitchurch, using 500 watts ERP with an additional 25 watt relay. Plymouth is a 'smaller' licence to be advertised in September 2005 that also serves Saltash and Torpoint and parts of Ivybridge, using 1,000 watts ERP.

News: Ofcom To License 13 New Local Commercial FM Radio Stations During 2005 2005 Grant Goddard

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Southend is a 'smaller' licence to be advertised in October 2005 that will also cover Canvey Island, South Benfleet, Rochford, Rayleigh and Shoeburyness, but not Basildon or Wickford, using 500 watts ERP on 105.1 FM. Rotherham is a 'smaller' licence to be advertised in November 2005 that will cover the town, but not the entire Rotherham borough or Sheffield, with 200 watts on 96.1 FM, replacing the former Rotherham relay of Hallam FM. Newry is a 'smaller' licence to be advertised in December 1995 that will cover most of the district of Newry & Mourne, but not Armagh or Banbridge, with 2,000 watts ERP on 100.5 FM. Additional relays could be added to extend coverage across the whole of the district. Ofcom plans to add further 'larger' licences to this list in March 2005, all of which will be advertised before year-end.

[First published in 'The Radio Magazine' as '13 Radio Licences in 2005', #667, 22 January 2005]

Grant Goddard is a media analyst / radio specialist / radio consultant with thirty years of experience in the broadcasting industry, having held senior management and consultancy roles within the commercial media sector in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. Details at http://www.grantgoddard.co.uk

News: Ofcom To License 13 New Local Commercial FM Radio Stations During 2005 2005 Grant Goddard

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