INR2 Applications Received

The Radio Authority received five applications for the INR2 licence, and subject to all the requirements of the Broadcasting Act being met, the licence will go to the highest bidder, Independent National Broadcasting.

INB pledged £4,010,000, £2.1m ahead of its nearest rival, and is planning a pop and rock music format targeted at “young adults in their 20s and 30s”. The service will be broadcast from Sheffield, and will give “proper weight to album music.”

The consortium is led by Michael Mallett, former chairman of Yorkshire Radio Network. Further members of the consortium from the television, radio and music industries will be revealed at a later date.

The Authority hopes to award the licence in April/May, and the station should be on air as soon as studio and staffing arrangements have been completed.

Should INB fail to meet the Act’s requirements (financial viability , programming, and whether the applicants are ‘fit and proper persons’), the next highest bidder will have the chance to fulfill the criteria and take the licence. Independent Music Radio (led by Paul Vickers) bid £1,883,000. Other applicants were National Rock Radio (Ludgate Communications), Score Radio (Radio Clyde) and 20/20 Radio (Chiltern Radio).

INB: 0742 305 166, 071 402 8009