Daily Mail Increases Local Radio Portfolio

The Daily Mail and General Trust, owner of the Daily Mail, yesterday increased its ownership of commercial radio. Harmsworth Media, a subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust, bought the radio investments previously owned by MAI for £6.8m.

MAI had gained the stakes through its purchase of Anglia TV, but did not see itself as a player in the radio market. Harmsworth now holds 18.5% of Chiltern Radio, 19.2% of East Anglian Radio and 13.3% of Essex Radio. Harmsworth already owned 19% of GWR, 4% of Classic FM, 39% of Radio Trust and 18% of Swansea Sound.

• The Office of Fair Trading has cleared Capital Radio’s £32.6m takeover of Southern Radio.