Commercial Radio Licensing: BAI Contract Awards Committee to call for Expressions of Interest

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) will tomorrow (12^th July 2012) invite expressions of interest from parties interested in securing a sound broadcasting contract on the FM band for the provision of a sound broadcasting service, in accordance with the BAI’s Commercial Radio Licensing Plan 2012-2013.

The BAI published its licensing plan in June and this sets out the number, nature and scope of sound broadcasting contracts for the period to the end of 2013.  A total of 24 sound broadcasting services will be licensed. The licensing process will be completed in two stages.

The first of these, commencing tomorrow, will invite expressions of interest for 12 sound broadcasting services. The services range from broad-format, local radio services to music-driven services targeting different age-groups in Munster (three services), Connaught/Ulster (four services), Leinster (three services) and Dublin (two services).

Full details of the services being sought will be available on www.bai.ie from tomorrow.

Interested parties have until Monday 10^th September 2012 to present their expression of Interest to the BAI.

Media Queries to:

Brian Furey                                                                                        Catherine Heaney

BAI                                                                                                      DHR Communications Ltd

01 6441200                                                                                         01 4200580/ 087 2309835

*Note to Editors:

A copy of the BAI Licensing Plan is available here: https://www.bai.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/20120622_BAI-Licensing-Plan-2012-2013.pdf

Expressions of Interest are being invited regarding the following services:

Munster

• Waterford City and County (broad-format, local radio service): The contract, currently held by South East Broadcasting Company Limited and broadcasting as WLR FM, is due to expire on 7^th September 2013.
• County Clare (broad-format, local radio service): The contract, currently held by Clare Community Radio Holdings Plc and broadcasting as Clare FM, is due to expire on 9^th September 2013.
• County Tipperary (broad-format, local radio service): The contract, currently held by County Tipperary Radio Limited and broadcasting as Tipp FM, is due to expire on 19^th November 2013.

Connaught/Ulster

• County Mayo (broad-format, local radio service): The contract, currently held by County Mayo Radio Limited and broadcasting as Mid West Radio, is due to expire on 23^rd July 2013.
• Galway City and County (broad-format, local radio service): The contract, currently held by Western Community Broadcasting Services Limited and broadcasting as Galway Bay FM, is due to expire on 17^th August 2013.
• Counties Cavan and Monaghan and Counties Longford, Roscommon and South Leitrim – two services to be operated under a single contract, as follows (1) Counties Cavan and Monaghan: Broad-format, local radio service; (2) Counties Longford, Roscommon and South Leitrim (broad-format local radio service): The contract, currently held by Midland Radio Group Limited and broadcasting as Shannonside and Northern Sound, is due to expire on 16^th October 2013.

Leinster (excluding Dublin City and County)

• Counties Louth and Meath (broad-format, local radio service): The contract, currently held by Independent Broadcasting Corporation Limited and broadcasting as LMFM, is due to expire on 27^th August 2013.
• County Wicklow (broad-format, local radio service): The contract, currently held by East Coast Radio Limited and broadcasting as East Coast FM, is due to expire on 25^th October 2013.
• County Wexford (broad-format, local radio service): The contract, currently held by Corrmuda Limited and broadcasting as South East Radio, is due to expire on 15^th October 2013.

Dublin City and County

• Dublin City and County (music-driven service: target audience 15-34 year-olds): The contract, currently held by Capital Radio Productions Limited and broadcasting as FM104, is due to expire on 20^th July 2013.
• Dublin City and County (music-driven service: target audience 25-44 year-olds): The contract, currently held by Radio 2000 Limited and broadcasting as 98FM, is due to expire on 31^st October 2013.