Virgin Pushes For FM Frequency

Virgin 1215 has launched a campaign to move to an FM frequency at the same time as the Radio Authority releases a consultation document on the future use of the spare frequencies between 105 and 108 FM. When Virgin launched last April Richard Branson said he hoped the station would be given an FM frequency as soon as one was available and he even discussed the possibility of swapping with one of the BBC’s national FM frequencies.

The spare FM frequencies will become available to the Radio Authority at the beginning of 1996 and there are 4 main options for their use;

• A 4th INR station available to 90% of the population
• 1 More service similar in size in each existing ILR area
• A new network lattice of services of the same size (e.g 10, 15 or 40km radius)
• A combination of the above services but concentrated in more populated areas

James Gordon, chairman of the AIRC, has welcomed the document which he believes will trigger a wide-ranging debate. He suggest that “One obvious use of the spectrum …. is to upgrade existing AM services to FM, and to remove ownership restrictions which would prevent one operator owning two FM’s in the same area.”

Radio Authority: 071 405 7058