Xfm Scoops Close Fought Manchester FM Licence

Indie rock station Xfm has been awarded the coveted Manchester FM radio licence, marking the station’s first permanent regional FM expansion outside of the capital.

Industry regulator, Ofcom, confirmed the win for the GCap Media-station, following a closely fought battle with applications from several of the nation’s largest radio operators.

Xfm carried out a trial broadcast within the Manchester area last summer, featuring a mix of content from the station’s London broadcasts, as well as some local programming between 10am and 4pm. The station’s drivetime show, fronted by Lauren Laverne, was also broadcast from Manchester in the second week of the month-long trial, as was station regular Richard Bacon (see Xfm To Broadcast In Manchester Ahead Of FM Licence Bid).

Amongst those bidding for the much sought after spectrum space were Scottish Media Group, Emap and Capital Radio, each proposing alternative and rock focused music stations, built around their core brands of Virgin Classic Rock, Kerrang! and Xfm respectively (see Ofcom Lifts Lid On Manchester Radio Bids).

Kerrang! announced plans to bid for the licence at the end of last year, following a successful bid for the FM licence in the West Midlands and trial broadcasts of Kerrang! in Manchester earlier in the year, however these have now proved unsuccessful in securing the new licence (see Kerrang Radio Prepares FM Broadcasts In Manchester).

At the beginning of the year, Guardian Media Group Radio pulled out of the race for the Manchester licence, stating that it was not commercially viable. The company had hoped to serve a larger area than the 1.3 million TSA advertised by industry regulator, Ofcom, and was therefore forced to withdraw from the running (seeGMG Pulls Out Of Manchester Radio Race).

Xfm’s acquisition of the Manchester licence will see it gain access to a potential audience of around 1.3 million adults in and around the city.

Xfm: 0871 222 1049 www.xfm.co.uk