NEWS: OFCOM LICENSES NINE MORE COMMUNITY RADIO STATIONS by GRANT GODDARD

www.grantgoddard.co.uk March 2006

Nine further community radio stations have been awarded five-year licences by Ofcom, bringing the total number licensed to 93. The latest recipients are: 'Hope FM' in Bournemouth (Christian programming) 'Branch FM' in Dewsbury (Christian programming) 'Ipswich Community Radio' (funded by CSV) 'Siren FM' in Lincoln (based at the University) 'Diverse FM' in Luton (ethnic programmes) 'Castledown Radio' in Wiltshire (serving civilian and military around Tidworth) 'Salisbury Plain Army Radio' (serving Bulford Camp) 'Radio Verulam' in St Albans (existing cable community station) 'Calon FM' in Wrexham (based at the North East Wales Institute of Higher Education). Baz Reilly of Castledown Radio commented: I am absolutely thrilled! This is great news for the community area, we have already seen huge benefits from the station, but this is the icing on the cake! We have been waiting a long time for this decision and now we have the go ahead to bring radio directly to the people. Clive Glover, chairman and founder of Radio Verulam, said: This is fantastic news. This is what we have been working towards for the past fifteen years a truly local community radio service for St Albans that can be heard by anyone in the area on a normal FM radio. Ofcom said it would have liked to award an additional licence to 'Lyon Radio' in Stevenage but cannot because its engineers are unable to identify a suitable frequency on the FM waveband that will deliver a sustainable service in either stereo or mono. Ofcom rejected applications from 'Nerve Radio' in Bournemouth, 'Wrexham FM' and 'Lindum Radio' in Lincoln.

[First published in 'The Radio Magazine' as 'Nine Community Stations Awarded', #728, 22 March 2006]

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 Licenses Nine More Community Radio Stations 2006 Grant Goddard

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