News story about an announcement by UK media regulator Ofcom that it will advertise at least 13 new local commercial radio licences during 2005, written by Grant Goddard in January 2005 for The Radio Magazine.

1. NEWS: OFCOM TO LICENSE 13
NEW LOCAL COMMERCIAL FM
RADIO STATIONS DURING 2005
by
GRANT GODDARD
www.grantgoddard.co.uk
January 2005

2. 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-upon-
Avon, 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 page 2
©2005 Grant Goddard

3. News: Ofcom To License 13 New Local Commercial FM Radio Stations During 2005 page 3
©2005 Grant Goddard
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