Signal 107 faces challenger in licence renewal

By James Cridland for media.info
Posted 25 March 2015, 6.45am edt

Ofcom have today announced that there are two applicants for the renewal of the Wolverhampton FM licence.

The licence, formerly operating as The Wolf, is currently part of Signal 107, run by UTV Media; it holds four combined licences overall. Signal 107 broadcasts from studios and a tower at its Wolverhampton base.

Signal's application describes the station as "on a firm path to profitability" as a direct result of the combined licenses, and says that it would not be viable as a standalone service.

Signal's application also highlights the service's audience decline, and a sharp reverse in that decline after Richard 'Dicky' Dodd started broadcasting on breakfast.

Wolverhampton listeners get local news, advertising and information, says the application.

The challenger application is from Asian FX, a radio station to be run by Panjab Radio.

The application lists John Evington as a director: John was Programme Director at Signal Radio for 22 years, and also launched a youth-focused Asian service while at Steve Penk's The Revolution.

The Asian FX application suggests it would take over tenancy of Signal's studios and tower (and, if you're interested, contains photographs of it).

There is also a community radio station, WCR FM in the area, and it lies within the transmission area of Free Radio and Heart.