Quidem acquires five radio stations

Steve Orchard’s new commercial radio company has acquired five Midlands radio stations from the independent regional media firm CN Group.

Quidem, a new local radio company that was set up by Orchard and Wendy Pallot following Orchard’s departure from GCap Media in January last year, bought the Touch Radio portfolio from CN Group for an undisclosed sum.

Touch Radio currently broadcasts to Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon, Coventry, Rugby and Tamworth areas as Touch FM and Rugby FM.

Orchard said: “Quidem has been formed to acquire commercial radio stations. Lord Carter’s Digital Britain report creates a number of significant incentives for this sector to innovate and grow, and our company is well placed to benefit from these exciting new opportunities.”

CN Group will continue to operate a small number of additional stations and its local newspapers in Cumbria, despite recent reports that the company was considering closing its Barrow-in-Furness print plant.