Carlow Kildare Radio (CKR) has withdrawn High Court proceedings against the Broadcasting Commission over changes in the franchise areas of radio licences in the south-east.
The station's decision not to proceed with an application for judicial review paves the way for the award of licences for radio services in the Carlow/Kilkenny and Kildare areas.
CKR's largest shareholder, Mr James Reddy, was unavailable yesterday to explain why it had stopped its legal action. The boundary change effectively splits its catchment area.
The Carlow-based firm has applied for a new licence under the name Carlow Kilkenny Radio (CKR) in the Carlow/Kilkenny area and for a licence in Kildare under the name Kildare Radio Ltd (KFM)
In Carlow/Kilkenny, CKR faces rival bids from KCR FM, owned by Kilkenny Community Communications, and KCLR, owned by CK Broadcasting Ltd, also based in Kilkenny.
There are four rival bids in Kildare - Kildare 97fm, owned by Louth Meath FM (LMFM); Kfm, owned by Co Kildare FM Radio Ltd; Kildare Sound, owned by Kildare Communications Ltd; and a Dublin-based firm, KFM Media Services Ltd.
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