• Blackburn, Durham, Kidderminster and Ashford
• Tailored transmission systems to suit local requirements
• First group of new FM licences from Ofcom

Arqiva (formerly NTL Broadcast) has been awarded four 12-year contracts to provide transmission services for a new generation of FM radio stations.  Of the 35 radio licences planned by Ofcom, this is the first batch of smaller-scale stations to progress to the transmission contract stage.

The Bee, majority-owned by The Radio Business Limited and The Local Radio Company, will serve an adult population of around 150,000 in Blackburn, Darwen, Accrington, Clayton-le-Moors and Great Harwood.; Durham FM , owned by The Local Radio Company, is to cover 160,000 adults in the city of Durham and immediate area; The Wyre, owned by Midlands News Association Limited, will serve 100,000 in Kidderminster and its surroundings; and KM-FM Ashford, majority-owned by Kent Messenger Ltd, will broadcast to an adult population of 60,000 in and around Ashford.

Pete ‘Waggy' Wagstaff at The Wyre said: "We're proud to be right at the start of this new wave of FM stations, and happy to rely on Arqiva for transmission.  Ours is a relatively small-scale requirement but when you only have one transmitter, you really need it to work!"

Paul Eaton, Head of Radio at Arqiva, added: "It's great to see another expansion of analogue commercial radio running alongside the great strides that digital is making.  It just goes to show that the Radio medium is stronger than ever, regardless of the technology.  We're delighted to demonstrate that we can attract the smaller stations, meeting demands on an individual basis -especially with good transmission sites and creative use of antenna design.  All these stations will have our full support as they develop throughout their licence period."