Six Bidders To Compete For Ashford FM Licence

Media super-regulator Ofcom has today revealed six bidders will compete to take control of the new local FM radio licence for the Ashford area in Kent.

The six broadcasters battling for the coveted M licence include Ashford FM, Ashford Local Radio, Lark FM: KMfm, Time FM, A10 FM and East Kent Radio. All of the proposed stations will be music-based, but East Kent Radio is attempting to differentiate itself by targeting audiences over the age of 30.

Ofcom estimates that the total adult population for the area covered by the new FM licence will be somewhere around the 60,000 mark. The media regulator will announce the winner of the bidding process for the year-long licence early next month.

It was recently revealed that the city of Durham will get its own dedicated FM radio station under new proposals being put forward by Ofcom. Potential bidders have been invited to pitch for the FM licence, which is expected to air for the first time in midway through next year (see Ofcom Advertises New FM Licence For Durham).

A number of the UK’s most high-profile radio companies are also lining up to bid for the new FM radio licence in Edinburgh. Interested parties included Kelvin MacKenzie’s Wireless Group, the Guardian Media Group Radio, the Scottish Media Group, Chrysalis Radio and GWR (see Radio Heavyweights Line Up For Edinburgh Licence).

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

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