Home > Media and Analysts > News Release Archive > 2005 > May > 09|05|05

09|05|05

Ofcom awards new FM commercial radio licence for Banbury

Ofcom today announces the award of the new FM local commercial radio licence for Banbury.

By the closing date of 9 February, Ofcom received three applications for the licence. After giving careful consideration to each of the applications submitted, the Ofcom Radio Licensing Committee has decided to award the licence to:

The Bear (The New 102 Limited) - contact: Christine Arnold, 0845 8501 102, chris.arnold@thebear.co.uk

The Bear is wholly owned by The CN Group. It will provide “a locally focused, adult contemporary radio station with news, information and features of particular relevance to Banbury and the surrounding areas”.

The licence is for a service to cover the town of Banbury and surrounding area which has an adult population (aged 15+) of around 70,000. However, the exact coverage will be determined by the location of the transmission site and other technical characteristics.

Ofcom expects The Bear to begin broadcasting at the earliest opportunity and no later than two years from this award date.

Ofcom will publish a statement setting out the key determining factors for the award of this licence shortly.

The licence will be issued for a twelve year period.

Ends.

Back to top