Ulster Television has been awarded the licence to operate a new commercial radio station for Belfast.
The TV company, which already operates a number of successful radio stations in the Republic, beat off ten other contenders when the regulator Ofcom announced who was getting the licence.
Ofcom said the licence was for 12 years and it expected the new station U105, to begin broadcasting at the earliest opportunity - and no later than two years.
Roy Bailie, chairman of U105, said had won the licence against stiff competition from local, national and international radio groups.
"U105 will appeal primarily to those aged over 45 living in Belfast and the surrounding area, an audience under-served by existing stations," he said. "Seven out of 10 listeners in this age group do not currently listen to local commercial radio, and we plan to change that with U105 which aims to be on air by early 2006."
They won the licence offering a "personality-led" station and it is anticipated that many of their stable of existing well known names will also operate on the radio station.
The new station will be accessible to an area with population of around 750,000 people over the age of 15, and to the rest of Northern Ireland on the Freeview digital TV platform.
It will create over 30 new jobs.
PA