Ofcom Opens Bidding For Liverpool FM Licence

Government watchdog, Ofcom, is inviting applications for a third local FM commercial licence for Liverpool, enabling the successful applicant to broadcast for up to 12 years.

Ofcom expects that between 1.4 million and 1.5 million adult listeners will be able to access the station covered by the licence.

The 105.9 frequency will cover the city of Liverpool and surrounding areas from Ellesmere Port and Warrington in Cheshire to as far away as Flintshire in Wales.

Applicants have until 3pm on 13 July to submit bids, which are subject to a non-refundable fee of £25,000.

Ofcom recently awarded nine new community radio licences, bringing the total awarded to ninety-three (see Ofcom Awards Nine New Community Radio Licences).

The new licences will cover the areas of Dorset, West Yorkshire, Suffolk, Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, Salisbury Plain, Hertfordshire and NorthEast Wales.

The creation of community licences was first outlined by Ofcom last year, although the practice has drawn considerable criticism from the commercial radio sector (see Ofcom Out Of Tune Over Community Radio Proposals).

Ofcom: 020 7981 3040 www.ofcom.org.uk