TV3 bids €10m for multi-city radio licence

TV3 has made a €10 million bid to create a radio licence, which would create 50 jobs in studios across Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway.

The television station is competing with four other consortiums, including one led by veteran broadcaster Mike Murphy.

TV3 has promised the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI), which is reviewing applications, a mix of music, news and entertainment on the station, More FM.

“More FM’s newsroom will be one of the largest commercial radio newsrooms in Ireland, and it will also have all the resources of the TV3 newsroom at its disposal,” read details of its submission.

In its submission to the BCI, TV3 says its Cork studio would allow for regional broadcasts of flagship programmes and immediate news updates from regional locations, permitted under the licence application.

Furthermore, it is planned that Cork native Debbie O’Donnell, the producer of Ireland AM and formerly with Sky News in London, will be on the board with the new station.

More FM’s planned current affairs programming would see a topical documentary broadcast on Saturdays and Sundays.

Those behind More FM are pledging to report stories “not covered elsewhere”, according to a source close to the submission. Evening bulletins will also go out at 6.30pm.

Some of the planned weekend programmes will include:

* A relaxed music-driven ‘wake-up’ show starting at 6am.

* A late breakfast music and conversation show from 10am.

* A music-led ‘classic’ chart show from 1pm.

* A ‘Big Weekend’ show with sports and news updates from 3pm.

* An ‘On the Case’ topical evening show, focusing on current affairs topics.

Applications from the five contenders will be available for members of the public to view online this Friday.

See www.bci.ie for more information.