Planned timetable for the re-advertisement of local analogue commercial radio licences

TV, radio and on-demand Analogue radio Licence information
Published: 28 October 2022
Last updated: 16 March 2023
Licence area Station name Expiry date of existing licence Licence 'pre-advertisement'1 Licence re-advertisement (if required)2
Greater London*MAGIC 31 Dec 202331 Oct 20221 Dec 2022
Greater London*KISS 31 Dec 202331 Oct 20221 Dec 2022
Greater London*SMOOTH RADIO 31 Dec 202331 Oct 20221 Dec 2022
Coventry and surrounding*FREE RADIO31 Dec 202331 Oct 20221 Dec 2022
Dundee/Perth*TAY FM31 Dec 202331 Oct 20221 Dec 2022
Dundee/Perth*TAY 231 Dec 202331 Oct 20221 Dec 2022
Bradford*SUNRISE FM31 Dec 202331 Oct 20221 Dec 2022
Brixton*CAPITAL XTRA31 Dec 202331 Oct 20221 Dec 2022
Belfast*Q RADIO 31 Dec 202331 Oct 20221 Dec 2022
Southend/Chelmsford*SMOOTH RADIO31 Dec 202331 Oct 20221 Dec 2022
Peterborough*GOLD31 Dec 202331 Oct 20221 Dec 2022
Peterborough and surrounding*HEART31 Dec 202331 Oct 20221 Dec 2022
Bournemouth*SMOOTH RADIO31 Dec 202331 Oct 20221 Dec 2022
Bournemouth*HEART31 Dec 202331 Oct 20221 Dec 2022
Exeter/Torbay* HEART31 Dec 202331 Oct 20221 Dec 2022
Birmingham*CAPITAL 31 Dec 202331 Oct 20221 Dec 2022
Inverness*MORAY FIRTH RADIO FM22 Feb 202423 Dec 202223 Jan 2023
Inverness*MFR222 Feb 202423 Dec 202223 Jan 2023
Greater London*GREATEST HITS RADIO9 Apr 20248 Feb 202311 Mar 2023
Harlow*HEART30 Apr 20241 Mar 20231 Apr 2023
North Wales Coast*CAPITAL 26 Aug 202427 Jun 202328 Jul 2023
Greater London*HEART 3 Sep 20245 Jul 20235 Aug 2023
Doncaster*GREATEST HITS RADIO4 Sep 20246 Jul 20236 Aug 2023
Leicester*SABRAS RADIO6 Sep 20248 Jul 20238 Aug 2023
Leicester*CAPITAL 6 Sep 20248 Jul 20238 Aug 2023
Preston and Blackpool*ROCK FM4 Oct 20245 Aug 20235 Sep 2023
Greater London*LBC 7 Oct 20248 Aug 20238 Sep 2023
Greater London*LBC NEWS7 Oct 20248 Aug 20238 Sep 2023
Swindon/West Wiltshire*SMOOTH RADIO11 Oct 202412 Aug 202312 Sep 2023
Swindon/West Wiltshire*HEART 11 Oct 202412 Aug 202312 Sep 2023
Greater London*GOLD 15 Oct 202416 Aug 202316 Sep 2023
Greater London*CAPITAL 15 Oct 202416 Aug 202316 Sep 2023
West Midlands*SMOOTH RADIO16 Oct 202417 Aug 202317 Sep 2023
Colchester*HEART17 Oct 202418 Aug 202318 Sep 2023
South Hams*Heart30 Nov 20241 Oct 20231 Nov 2023
Bradford / Huddersfield*GREATEST HITS RADIO3 Dec 20244 Oct 20234 Nov 2023
Bradford / Huddersfield*PULSE 13 Dec 20244 Oct 20234 Nov 2023
Glasgow & West Central Scotland*CLYDE 230 Dec 202431 Oct 20231 Dec 2023
Glasgow & West Central Scotland*CLYDE 130 Dec 202431 Oct 20231 Dec 2023
Cardiff/Newport*CAPITAL31 Dec 20241 Nov 20232 Dec 2023
Greater London*PANJAB RADIO31 Dec 20241 Nov 20232 Dec 2023

* Each of these licences currently qualifies for renewal under the Broadcasting Act 1990 and thus may not be pre-advertised.

The dates in the above table (apart from the expiry date of the existing licence) are subject to revision, as circumstances dictate.

In accordance with Ofcom's published policy (PDF, 252.0 KB), any licence whose existing holder does not commit to maintaining its current Format will be fully re-advertised in accordance with the above timetable.

Footnotes:

1. Licence 'pre-advertisement' involves Ofcom inviting declarations of intent to apply for the licence. A declaration of intent must be accompanied by a cash deposit. If no declaration of intent is received from anyone except the existing licensee, Ofcom can proceed with a 'fast track' re-licensing of the existing licensee. If more than one declaration of intent is received, the licence will be re-advertised.

2. There will be at least a three month period between advertisement date and closing date for applications.

Introduction

1.1 This document provides guidance for those wishing to apply for re-advertised local analogue commercial radio licences. For both the existing holders of those licences and others who may wish to apply for them, it explains the licensing process that Ofcom will follow, the main statutory requirements we will consider and the licence conditions that will need to be met.

General disclaimer

1.2 Information is supplied on a wide range of matters in this document, many of which depend on interpretation of the law. The information given is not an exhaustive account of the statutory and licensing requirements and should not be regarded as a complete and authoritative statement of the law. Nor does any information issued by Ofcom, whether in this document or elsewhere, imply any judgement by Ofcom as to commercial prospects for licences, or that licensed services will be profitable.

1.3 Prospective applicants for local analogue commercial radio licences must make their own independent assessment after taking their own professional advice and making such further investigations as they deem necessary on all relevant matters. Ofcom makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, with respect to information contained in this document or with respect to any written or oral information made or to be made available to any potential applicant or its professional advisors. Any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed. Ofcom reserves the right to alter or correct any part of this document.

1.4 Prospective applicants should be aware that certain features of the licensing process, such as fees, sanctions procedures and the drafting of relevant content codes, may change in the future as various public consultations are carried out and their results assessed.

Local analogue commercial radio licence re-advertisement - Notes of guidance for applicants (PDF, 183.4 KB)

Financial template for licence applications (XLS, 28.0 KB)

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