Commission to offer independent radio licences in Dublin and Cork

Dublin could have five new independent radio stations by the end of next year.

The Independent Radio and Television Commission (IRTC) announced yesterday it would begin the process of awarding another two radio licences for Dublin. A new licence will also be offered in Cork, and the commission indicated there may be scope for further licences in the rest of the State.

Three licences were awarded for the Dublin area last October, and one of those stations, Lite FM, will go on air in May. The other, News Talk 106FM, also plans to begin broadcasting this year. The third licence was awarded to SpinFM, but that award is currently the subject of High Court judicial review.

One of the licences announced yesterday was for the 106.8FM frequency, while the other will be for a medium wave station. The licensing process for both stations is likely to begin in the second half of this year.

Speaking at an IRTC conference yesterday, the chairman of the commission, Mr Conor Maguire SC, said the IRTC board had received a good response to an invitation for expressions of interest in the Cork area, and as a result it had agreed to advertise for one additional Cork city and county service. Mr Maguire said the IRTC would also "commence a detailed expression-of-interest phase" for the rest of the State. A list of all available county and regional FM frequencies would be made available to anyone interested in applying for a licence and a similar list in respect of medium wave frequencies. The IRTC chairman said the commission hoped to move to licensing by the beginning of next year. The "rest of Ireland" outside Dublin and Cork "poses many challenges . . . particularly in relation to commercial viability factors", Mr Maguire said. The commission could either license a second service in some counties or it could license regional services or a combination of both.

"Based on the criteria of viability, diversity of programming and the effective mix of frequencies, there may be certain merits to the regional service option", Mr Maguire told delegates.

The IRTC chairman also confirmed that existing independent radio services in the State would be readvertised in the period January 2002 to April 2003.

He acknowledged that existing stations had consistently argued that the introduction of new services threatened the stability of the sector. However, that argument would now have to be judged against a more healthy economic background.

"I would say to the industry, take a broader view of these developments, regard them as an opportunity for the stations to develop and not as a threat to their existing viability."

However, the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland said it was "deeply concerned" that the IRTC was thinking of issuing regional licences. "If new regional licences are offered it may have the effect of creating a new raft of radio stations which will replace existing local radio when digital is introduced," it said.

The IBI is seeking an immediate meeting with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera.