11/03/2008

A commercial FM radio licence is up for grabs, in the north of Scotland, lasting up to seven years.

Currently, Lochbroom FM hold the licence to broadcast to the Ullapool area, but the licence is due to expire on May 22 next year.

Hence, broadcasting regulators, Ofcom, are inviting applications for the licence’s next lifetime, from May 23 next year until December 31 2015.

The closing date applications - along with a non-refundable fee of £5000 and refundable further fee of £1000 - is the seventh of next month.

Lochbroom FM broadcasts on 102.2 and 96.8 FM.

It wasn't available to confirm whether it would be seeking to bid for the new licence.

Meanwhile, Ofcom was celebrating the setting up of its 100th community radio station, which are not-for-profit, usually broadcast to an area with a radius no bigger than five km, and seek to deliver specific social benefits to local communities, such as training for young people.

Bringing the total to hundred are 7 Waves Community Radio, serving the people of Leasowe and surrounding areas on the Wirral, and Calon FM, serving Wrexham.


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