Examiner and TV3 to seek Dublin radio licence

The Examiner group and TV3 are expected to submit expressions of interest in the new radio licences for Dublin to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI).

This Friday is the closing date for expressions of interest in four licences for Dublin city and county. Also believed to be interested are UTV, Guardian Media Group and former Lite FM executives Mr Martin Block and Mr Al Dunne. There has also been speculation that Communicorp, the radio group controlled by Mr Denis O'Brien, may be interested.

Mr Anthony Dinan, managing director of Thomas Crosbie Holdings, said his firm, which owns the Examiner newspaper, would be submitting an expression of interest. He said the company already had interests in three stations: North West Radio; MidWest Radio and RedFM, the Cork youth-oriented station. Getting involved in the Dublin radio market would make sense, he said. "We always have an interest in radio. We have been very happy with our three radio investments to date."

The firm's radio interests have performed strongly, although it will lose out if North West radio comes off the air and loses its licence. This is scheduled to happen following a decision by the BCI to give the licence for Donegal South/Sligo/Leitrim North to Ocean FM Radio.

TV3 managing director Mr Rick Hetherington told The Irish Times the firm was interested in Dublin radio and was considering whether to submit an expression of interest by Friday.

He said Candian firm, CanWest, a major shareholder in TV3 along with Granada, had radio interests in Canada and New Zealand. He said the BCI process was at an early stage, but TV3 was interested in opportunities in Dublin.

The station previously expressed an interest to the BCI in providing further television services, although Mr Hetherington firmly believes the dominance of RTÉ in the market would make it almost impossible for a new commercial service to survive.

The BCI is considering allocating four frequencies for Dublin. One will provide coverage in Dublin city and county; one will cover Dublin city and part of the county; while the other two will cover the area within the bounds of the M50.

The BCI took the decision to invite expressions of interest because it said it was conscious of the many calls for additional services in Dublin.

While jazz and alternative rock services are likely to be championed by some consortiums, others believe that in the current advertising climate only stations with relatively broad appeal will survive.

A so-called pop "oldies" station is likely to prove popular, as the Dublin market, with the exception of Lite FM and Country 106, is skewed towards those in the their 20s and 30s.

In recent weeks, however, a lobby group, the Specialist Radio Association, has started campaigning for changes to broadcasting legislation.

It believes the present process favours big business and alienates specialist operators. The group points out that Ireland has no rock, oldies, dance, jazz, alternative, hip-hop, classic rock or world music stations.