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UTV wins Belfast radio licence

(March 2005)

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AJ
A.J.A.
It'll be cross-promotional heaven for them!

Ofcom website

Quote:
Ofcom awards new FM commercial radio licence for Belfast

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

By the closing date of 8 December 2004, Ofcom received eleven applications for the Belfast licence. After giving careful consideration to each of the applications submitted, the Ofcom Radio Licensing Committee has decided to award the licence to:

U105, owned by Ulster Television PLC. It will provide a personality-led station aimed primarily at the over 45 age group in Belfast and the surrounding area. It will offer topical speech and music, from the Gold era to the present day, t o an adult population (aged 15+) of around 750,000. However, the exact coverage will be determined by the location of the transmission site and other technical characteristics.

Ofcom expects U105 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.
PE
peterrocket Founding member
Oh god, a home now for Duncan and Jones for when BBC Radio Ulster boots them off air!
GB
GavBelfast
The safe option, surely, rather like giving them the TV franchise back in 1991.

But their bid read very well and with Mr Radio at the helm, was always likely they would win. Plus ready-made premises, financial clout, etc.

Interesting that one of their main men had to join them to get on the winning side for a franchise bid, after glorious failures like NIITV, TVNI, etc, AGAINST UTV.

Maybe one or two openings for continuity announcers who fancy branching out/renewing acquaintances.

Wink
NH
Nick Harvey Founding member
These Ofcom people seem to love breaking all the rules, don't they?

THURSDAY is the day for announcing radio station winners, NOT Monday. Talk about throwing the world into confusion.

They'll be serving up chips and egg for tea on a Thursday next!

Congratulations to the Atlantic FM crew down in Cornwall as well today.
UB
Uncle Bruce
Nick Harvey posted:


Congratulations to the Atlantic FM crew down in Cornwall as well today.


Interesting, not one of the favourites.
NH
Nick Harvey Founding member
Uncle Bruce posted:
Interesting, not one of the favourites.

Bit of a surprise, yes.

You were missed tonight; okay I trust, just the motor a bit unwell, I understand.
MU
murf1000
At least now the North has a radio station that has its owners in Belfast, and not Scotland.
UB
Uncle Bruce
Nick Harvey posted:
Uncle Bruce posted:
Interesting, not one of the favourites.

Bit of a surprise, yes.

You were missed tonight; okay I trust, just the motor a bit unwell, I understand.


Dunno about the motor - more my neck. Whiplash ain't funny.
MA
marksi
murf1000 posted:
At least now the North has a radio station that has its owners in Belfast, and not Scotland.


There are many errors in that statement, the most obvious one being that BBC Radio Ulster is "owned" by the licence paying public of Northern Ireland, and based in Belfast.

Scottish Radio Holdings own Downtown Radio and Cool FM, though as far as I can see the change of ownership has never had any on air effect on the stations. CN Group, based in Carlisle, own Citybeat and Mid 106. The Q102 group of stations are owned by Frank McLaughlin who lives in Northern Ireland. There are a number of community licences up for grabs at the moment, these will almost certainly be locally owned.

Would it be ok if a company in Cork owned a station in Belfast? It's further away than Glasgow or Carlisle. It's hard to see where your argument is going, though I suspect you're just making a tired old political point one more time. I'd insert a yawning emoticon at this point if I could find one.
PL
plymouthbloke1974
Nick Harvey posted:
Congratulations to the Atlantic FM crew down in Cornwall as well today.

OOOooooo!!!!!!!! Sore topic down here!

CKFM deserved to get that licence, not Atlantic! CKFM were instrumental in getting the then-RA to advertise the licence in the first place.

They were robbed, dammit! Wink

Am I bitter? Yes!

At least two GOOD things came out of this....

1) Extreme FM didn't get it (Imagine UKRD getting the 2nd licence? Wasn't going to happen, was it?)

2) Itchy FM didn't get it - I mean... really! ITCHY FM?!?!? WTF????

Simon
NH
Nick Harvey Founding member
Yes, Simon, I noticed in "another place" that you were in John Grierson's camp.

Never mind, look to the future.

My lot failed to get Wiltshire, the first time round, so you COULD say that our ineptitude was resposible for GWR!
MU
murf1000
marksi posted:
murf1000 posted:
At least now the North has a radio station that has its owners in Belfast, and not Scotland.


There are many errors in that statement, the most obvious one being that BBC Radio Ulster is "owned" by the licence paying public of Northern Ireland, and based in Belfast.

Scottish Radio Holdings own Downtown Radio and Cool FM, though as far as I can see the change of ownership has never had any on air effect on the stations. CN Group, based in Carlisle, own Citybeat and Mid 106. The Q102 group of stations are owned by Frank McLaughlin who lives in Northern Ireland. There are a number of community licences up for grabs at the moment, these will almost certainly be locally owned.

Would it be ok if a company in Cork owned a station in Belfast? It's further away than Glasgow or Carlisle. It's hard to see where your argument is going, though I suspect you're just making a tired old political point one more time. I'd insert a yawning emoticon at this point if I could find one.


Was waiting on your comment Surprised .
Right Perhaps I should have written its nice to see a Belfast radio station been owned by a company based in the city.
BBC radio Ulster may be owned by the license paying public of the North, but ultimately where is BBC HQ?

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