Franchise Bids Wihdrawn

Classic FM and Real Radio have both withdrawn their bids for the national FM radio franchise,leaving Lord Hanson and his national version of Melody Radio as the main contender. Classic FM backed by the Telegraph, Carlton Communications and the Really Useful Group said the costs of running the franchise would be too high. The Radio Authority wants £1m for the licence, an annual fee of £75,000 and 4% of revenue. Real Radio is thought to have withdrawn its bid following the Authority’s further tightening of its definition of non-pop. (Newsline 21/3) The Radio Authority has now postponed the April 22 deadline for bids to allow for further negotiations.