Belfast station aims to be personality-led

UTV has won the race to provide a new radio service for Belfast following intense competition among Irish and British radio interests.

Ofcom, which regulates the radio sector in the UK, said it had received 11 applications for the new Belfast licence. The new service will be called U105.

UTV intends to provide what it calls "a personality-led station aimed primarily at the over 45 age group in Belfast". The company claimed the signal for the new service had the potential to reach up to 750,000 listeners.

"However, the exact coverage will be determined by the location of the transmission site and other technical characteristics," said a statement.

Ofcom expects U105 to begin broadcasting at the earliest opportunity and no later than two years from now. Ofcom will publish its reasons for awarding the licence to UTV shortly. The licence will cover a 12-year period.

Among the companies who expressed an interest in the licence were Independent News & Media; CanWest (part owner of TV3; Classic-FM owner GWR; British radio and magazine group Emap; and Who Wants to Be A Millionaire producer Celador.

The former editor of the Sun, Kelvin McKenzie also expressed an interest in the licence, as did the former managing director of FM 104, Dermot Hanrahan.

UTV will be particularly happy to win the latest licence, because its last attempt to win a licence in the Republic failed.

The licence for an alternative rock station in Dublin was awarded to Phantom FM late last year. This service is currently recruiting staff and hopes to be on air sometime over the summer months.

The number of licences in the Republic is likely to grow in the next few years.