Home > Media and Analysts > News Release Archive > 2006 > Jun > 08|06|06

08|06|06

Ofcom awards new FM commercial radio licence for Newry

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

By the closing date of 8 March 2006, Ofcom received two applications for the Newry licence. After giving careful consideration to each of the applications submitted, the Ofcom Radio Licensing Committee has decided to award the licence to:

Five FM (Newry and Mourne FM Ltd)
Stakeholder Communications, Pearl Assurance House, 2 Donegall Square East, Belfast BT1 5HB.
Contact: Tom Kelly Telephone: 028 9033 9949
E-mail: Tom.kelly@stakeholdergroup.com

Five FM will provide “a full service music and information station aimed at all adults in the Newry and Mourne area with significant resources devoted to local news and information”.

The licence is for a service to cover Newry and the surrounding area which has an adult population (aged 15+) of around 66,000. However, the exact coverage will be determined by the location of the transmission site and other technical characteristics. The proposed main frequency (100.5 MHz ) is subject to international agreement on radio spectrum usage.

Ofcom expects Five FM 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