Category: Licensing

In accordance with Section 67(3) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 as amended (“the Act”), Coimisiún na Meán (“An Coimisiún”) hereby states its intention to proceed to invoke the fast-track licensing procedure under Section 67(6) of the Act for the award of each of the nine sound broadcasting contracts described below.  Any person other than the incumbent interested in providing a sound broadcasting service is required to submit in writing that they wish to apply for the award of the sound broadcasting contract for the area concerned and to deposit the sum of €20,000 with An Coimisiún by the specified date.   Such deposit is refundable if an application for the award of the sound broadcasting contract is subsequently submitted to An Coimisiún, in accordance with Section 67(5) of the Act.   

The written submission must be completed in accordance with the format and by the date specified in the relevant “Guide to Submissions: Statement of Intent” published in respect of each contract below.  A Statement of Intent in response to this notice will not be regarded as an application for the sound broadcasting contract.  An invitation to apply for the award of the sound broadcasting contract in accordance with Section 65(8) of the Act will be issued separately, should An Coimisiún consider it appropriate to do so.   

 Munster

• South East Region comprising Waterford City and County, South Tipperary, and Counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford – Music-driven regional service for the 15 – 34 age group 

The Contract, currently held by WKW FM Limited and broadcasting as Beat 102-103, is due to expire on 30 March 2025.  

Guide and Form

• County Kerry – Broad-format local service 

The Contract, currently held by Raidió Chiarraí Teoranta and broadcasting as Radio Kerry, is due to expire on 9 April 2025.    

Guide and Form

• Cork City and County – two services to be operated under a single contract, as follows: 

1. Broad-format local service, broadcasting as C103 
2. Music-driven local service for the 25-44 age group, broadcasting as Cork’s 96FM 

The Contract, currently held by County Media Limited and broadcasting the above services, is due to expire on 30 April 2025.    

Guide and Form

Connaught-Ulster 

• North Donegal – Broad-format local service 

The Contract, currently held by Donegal Highland Radio Limited and broadcasting as Highland Radio, is due to expire on 30 March 2025. 

Guide and Form

• County Sligo, South Donegal and North Leitrim – Broad-format local service  

The Contract, currently held by North West Broadcasting Limited and broadcasting as Ocean FM, is due to expire on 30 March 2025. 

Guide and Form

Leinster, excluding Dublin City and County 

• Counties Kilkenny and Carlow – Broad-format local service 

The Contract, currently held by C.K. Broadcasting Limited and broadcasting as KCLR 96FM, is due to expire on 21 April 2025. 

Guide and Form

• Counties Laois, Offaly and Westmeath – Broad-format local service   

The Contract, currently held by Midlands Community Radio Services Limited and broadcasting as Midlands 103, is due to expire on 30 March 2025.  

Guide and Form

Dublin City and County 

• Dublin City and County – Music-driven local service for the 15 – 34 age group 

The Contract, currently held by Bauer Audio Ireland Limited acting as a general partner of Bauer Audio Ireland LP and broadcasting as Spin103.8, is due to expire on 5 April 2025. 

Guide and Form

• Dublin City and County – Niche music-driven local service  

The Contract, currently held by Star Broadcasting Limited and broadcasting as Sunshine 106.8, is due to expire on 30 March 2025. 

Guide and Form

Coimisiún na Meán (“the Commission”) today (21.03.24) placed a public notice in a national paper seeking expressions of interests from parties interested in securing a sound broadcasting contract (“Contract”) for the provision of the service/s listed below.  

Munster

• South East Region comprising Waterford City and County, South Tipperary, and Counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford – Music-driven regional service for the 15 – 34 age group 

The Contract, currently held by WKW FM Limited and broadcasting as Beat 102-103, is due to expire on 30 March 2025. 

Guide and Form

• County Kerry – Broad-format local service 

The Contract, currently held by Raidió Chiarraí Teoranta and broadcasting as Radio Kerry, is due to expire on 9 April 2025.  

Guide and Form 

• Cork City and County – two services to be operated under a single contract, as follows: 

1. Broad-format local service, broadcasting as C103 
2. Music-driven local service for the 25-44 age group, broadcasting as Cork’s 96FM 

The Contract, currently held by County Media Limited and broadcasting the above services, is due to expire on 30 April 2025.  

Guide and Form 

Connaught-Ulster 

• North Donegal – Broad-format local service 

The Contract, currently held by Donegal Highland Radio Limited and broadcasting as Highland Radio, is due to expire on 30 March 2025. 

Guide and Form 

• County Sligo, South Donegal and North Leitrim – Broad-format local service  

The Contract, currently held by North West Broadcasting Limited and broadcasting as Ocean FM, is due to expire on 30 March 2025. 

Guide and Form

Leinster, excluding Dublin City and County 

• Counties Kilkenny and Carlow – Broad-format local service 

The Contract, currently held by C.K. Broadcasting Limited and broadcasting as KCLR 96FM, is due to expire on 21 April 2025. 

Guide and Form 

• Counties Laois, Offaly and Westmeath – Broad-format local service   

The Contract, currently held by Midlands Community Radio Services Limited and broadcasting as Midlands 103, is due to expire on 30 March 2025.  

Guide and Form 

Dublin City and County 

• Dublin City and County – Music-driven local service for the 15 – 34 age group 

The Contract, currently held by Bauer Audio Ireland Limited acting as a general partner of Bauer Audio Ireland LP and broadcasting as Spin103.8, is due to expire on 5 April 2025. 

Guide and Form 

• Dublin City and County – Niche music-driven local service  

The Contract, currently held by Star Broadcasting Limited and broadcasting as Sunshine 106.8, is due to expire on 30 March 2025. 

Guide and Form

Interested parties should carefully read the Commission’s relevant Guide for Expressions of Interest and then complete in full the Expression of Interest form for the relevant service or services. The guides and forms for the above sound broadcasting services are available at the links above  or on request from the Commission’s offices (email: licensing@cnam.ie or call 01 644 1200).   

New applicants should also reference the Indicative Guide for Competitive Licensing here.  

Parties interested in submitting expressions of interest to the Commission should do so by 12 noon on Monday, 20 May 2024. 

Coimisiún na Meán has announced the award of new sound broadcasting contracts for local broad-format radio services, serving listeners in counties Galway, Louth and Meath, Mayo, Waterford, and Clare. The stations are: 

• Galway Bay FM  
• LMFM 
• Midwest Radio  
• WLR FM  
• Clare FM 

Each of the broadcasters signed new 10-year contracts between August and December 2023, following licensing processes commenced by An Coimisiún’s predecessor, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.    

Commenting, Broadcasting Commissioner, Celene Craig said: “Coimisiún na Meán is delighted to have entered into new 10-year contracts with these broadcasters, all of whom have been delivering to listeners in their respective franchise areas a diverse range of high-quality local content that both entertains and informs. I wish each station every success during their new contract term.” 

“An Coimisiún is committed to helping maintain a diversity of services and range of service options for radio listeners across Ireland and looks forward to continuing its licensing activities in the new year.” 

ENDS 

Media Contact Coimisiún na Meán: Síona Cahill / Joanne Ahern, DHR Communications. Tel: 087-753 0255 / 087-9881837 

Notes for Editors: 

• Galway Bay FM is operated by Western Community Broadcasting Services Limited and signed its new contract on 10^th August 2023. 
• LMFM is operated by the Independent Broadcasting Corporation Limited and signed its new contract on 16^th October 2023. 
• Midwest Radio is operated by County Mayo Radio Limited and signed its new contract on 23^rd October 2023. 
• WLR FM is operated by South East Broadcasting Company Limited and signed its new contract on the 6^th December 2023. 
• Clare FM is operated by Clare Community Radio Holdings Plc and signed its new contract on 19^th December 2023. 

About Coimisiún na Meán: 

Coimisiún na Meán is Ireland’s new commission for regulating broadcasters, on-demand services and online media, and supporting media development. Established in March 2023 under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022, it builds on the work of its predecessor, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. It is responsible for ensuring and maintaining a thriving and diverse media landscape in Ireland that facilitates a mix of voices, opinions and sources of news and current affairs, as well as a safe online environment. Its responsibilities are to: 

• Oversee the regulation of broadcasting and video-on-demand services. 
• Oversee the funding of and support the development of the wider media sector in Ireland. 
• Develop and enforce the Irish regulatory regime for online safety.