Town and Country keeps Radio Ceredigion

The current holder of the commercial radio licence for Ceredigion in Wales has won the right to continue running the station.

Town and Country Broadcasting refused an automatic renewal process and opted for the licence to be fully re-advertised so that it could reapply with a changed format proposal.

Last year the station had a request to Ofcom to reduce the amount of Welsh language programming in its format turned down.

It meant another local group – formed by a number of ex Radio Ceredigion presenters and staff – were able to compete against them to win the FM radio licence for the area.

But Ofcom has now announced that Radio Ceredigion Ltd, the company Town and Country has owned 80% of since 2010 and took full ownership last year, has been awarded the 7-year licence.

The new format for the station states that it will provide “a local news, music and information service for Ceredigion targeting a broad 15+ audience and including regular and identifiable Welsh language programming.”

Martin Mumford, Managing Director of Town and Country Broadcasting, told RadioToday.co.uk: “Radio Ceredigion carried out independent audience research to determine the best mix of programming for the county. Following this licence re-award, we look forward to developing the service in line with the research findings as quickly as possible.”

Ofcom says it will soon publish a statement setting out the key determining factors for the award of the licence to Radio Ceredigion Ltd.

Members of the group who put in the rival bid as Radio Ceredigion 2012 cyf were last month awarded a community radio licence for Radio Beca which will cover Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and north Pembrokeshire and include more broadcasts in Welsh. Radio Beca, however, won’t be allowed to take any advertising or sponsorship because two stations in its broadcast area – Radio Ceredigion and Radio Pembrokeshire – both have coverage areas of under 150,000 people.