The upcoming local commercial radio licence for Oxford is expected to attract up to half a dozen applications when it is advertised by Ofcom next month. One of the applications will come from Laser Broadcasting who have just announced that Tony Grundy, until recently Founding Chief Executive of Reading 107, has joined the bid.
Tony started his career at Piccadilly Radio in Manchester before moving to Radio Aire in Leeds and Radio Victory in Portsmouth before becoming Chief Executive of Radio 210 in Reading.
Said Nigel Reeve, Chief Executive of Laser, ?We are putting together a very strong bid for this licence. Laser will have a majority holding backed by a small number of key local investors including of course Tony Grundy. We have recently completed a major piece of research that shows our plans have identified a gap in the local market. This is after three trial broadcasts, two in Oxford and one in Abingdon each of which has been researched. In addition we have run a series of consultations with key local groups enabling us to have an in depth insight into what is needed. Having Tony on board is the last bit of the jigsaw?.
Said Tony Grundy ?As a local living just to the south of Oxford I?ve watched developments closely. I?ve looked at Laser?s plans to run a service that is at the heart of the local community with a strong emphasis on local programming and local sales. This is exactly what the area needs. I?m joining a very good bid that will offer the local population exactly what they want?.