CKR's licence extended to January

The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) is extending CKR FM's licence to the end of January.

This follows CKR's decision to withdraw a Supreme Court challenge against the commission's decision to change the Carlow-Kildare franchise area and award the franchise for Kildare to KFM and the Carlow-Kilkenny franchise to KCLR FM.

Michael O'Keefe, the chief executive of BCI, says he hopes to conclude negotiations with the new licence holders so that both new stations will be on-air early in the New Year.