UTV to launch new radio station in Britain

UTV MEDIA has confirmed plans to launch a new radio station, Signal 107, in Britain following its acquisition of three local radio licenses in the West Midlands.

The Belfast based multi-media group has acquired the licenses from MNA Broadcasting Limited for Telford, Shropshire and Kidderminster.

UTV Media, which already operates The Wolf radio station in Wolverhampton, now plans to merge MNAB’s former stations; The Severn and The Wyre to create the new station Signal 107.

The Belfast group believes the combined stations could reach a potential audience of around 900,000 people when it launches next month.

John McCann, group chief executive of UTV, has described the launch of the new British station as an important step for the Belfast-listed company.

Mr McCann said radio is currently the largest division in the UTV group which prior to its most recent acquisitions had grown to a stable of 21 stations.

According to the group latest industry figures by RAJAR for quarter three of last year show UTV’s 13 local music stations recorded a year on year increase in audiences of 14 per cent.

In Britain the Belfast group operations include the national radio station talkSPORT, 13 local radio stations and has interests in eight of the UK’s digital radio multiplexes.

UTV also has a major radio presence in Ireland where its interests include Q102 and FM104 in Dublin, U105 in Belfast, Corks 96FM, Limericks Live95FM, and LMFM which broadcasts in counties Louth and Meath.