Four companies submitted applications for the new local radio licence for Southend – but it has been won by Southend Radio – owners of a nearby station and Adventure Island in Southend.
Southend Radio is owned by Stockvale Limited (80%), the owner of St Albans & Watford Broadcasting Company Limited, which is the Ofcom licensee for Herfordshire?s Mercury 96.6 FM and Provincial Radio Limited (20%), a subsidiary of Tindle Radio Holdings Limited. It will provide “a locally relevant radio station for Southend with news, information, engaging chat and great music from the 60s to today.”
The licence is for a service to cover the town of Southend-on-Sea and the immediately surrounding area which has an adult population (aged 15+) of between 200,000 and 250,000. However, the exact coverage will be determined by the location of the transmission site and other technical characteristics.
Ofcom expects Southend Radio Limited to begin broadcasting at the earliest opportunity and no later than two years from this award date.