Firms tune into radio bid

The station will cover two million potential listeners

A fierce bidding war is expected over the rights to Scotland's newest radio station.

The West Central Scotland radio licence is now up for grabs and it is thought it will attract a number of high profile bidders.

The closing date for applications to the Radio Authority for the Glasgow licence was on Tuesday.

The new licence will cover almost two million listeners in Glasgow and west central Scotland, a similar size to that of Radio Clyde.

The licence will be awarded in October with the station going on-air in mid to late 2004.

LIKELY BIDDERS

Virgin Radio Glasgow

Scottish Radio Holdings

Wark Clements

Emap

Jazz FM

FM 105.2 The Storm

Chrysalis

Saga Radio

A spokesman for the Radio Authority said: "When the Authority comes to assess the applications it receives, it will be taking into consideration applicants' proposals to cater for the tastes and interests of listeners in this area, and to broaden the range of audience choice in relation to existing Independent Local Radio (ILR) services which are available."

The licence will run for eight years starting from the first day of broadcast.

It is expected to be the last new local radio licence to be awarded by the Radio Authority prior to its replacement by Ofcom as the body responsible for radio licensing at the end of this year.