[cma-l] North Manchester FM gets a licence!

[CMA-L]

Fwd:

Press release: Manchester's newest radio station gets the green light

North Manchester FM, a radio station committed to improving the quality of
life of its listeners, has just received a precious full time licence from
the broadcasting regulator Ofcom.  Fighting off stiff competition from
other community radio groups in the city, the station will be based at
MANCAT's One Central Park Campus in and staffed by a team of enthusiastic
volunteers from all walks of life.

The station is the result of seven years' work by residents, project
partners and the community radio charity Radio Regen.   The station team
made their first broadcast, as Radio Moston, in 2001 from the Sports &
Social Club on Kenyon Lane in Moston but will now make its home in the
gleaming learning environment at One Central Park, in Newton Heath.  NMFM
is committed to entertaining its listeners as well as creating new skills,
boosting community pride and enabling residents to have a better dialogue
with the various services tasked to serve them.

The announcement also means that the whole of the city of Manchester now
has a community radio service, adding to the existing stations ALLFM96.9
and WythenshaweFM97.2.

MANCAT's Principal, Peter Tavernor, took part in the first broadcast in
2001 and the college has invested substantially in community radio in the
city since then.  He said, "Being interviewed on Radio Moston in 2001, it
was clear to me that community radio could do amazing things in our most
disadvantaged communities.  There is so much talent in these
neighbourhoods, sometimes it just takes the right catalyst to make it
flourish – and that's why MANCAT has invested in community radio across the
city."

Local MP Graham Stringer, who supported the licence bid, said,
"I'm delighted that North Manchester FM got the licence.  This is a very
valuable additional asset to the community of North Manchester."

Local MP Tony Lloyd said "I am delighted by this news because this is
exactly what the community needs to bring people together to make the word
'community' a reality and create a voice for ordinary people."

North Manchester FM is an independent social enterprise with a Board of
Directors made up of people who live and work in the area and the station
will be run on their behalf, in its early years, by Radio Regen who also
authored the bid.  Radio Regen Director Phil Korbel, said,

"Manchester leads the country in community radio and this success confirms
the strength of the city.  There has been a lot of regeneration in North
Manchester and it's an area on the up – and now that we can apply what
we've learnt in the rest of the city, the station will be a brilliant
resource for the people of the area.  As the rest of the radio industry
struggles, we know we're onto a winner here."

The station is currently funded by MANCAT with additional support from
Northwards Housing.  Other partners committed to support the station in the
future include the City Council, the Fire Service and Fujitsu.

Notes to Editors:
Contact Phil Korbel on 07812 99 22 82 for more information.

There will be a photo opportunity at One Central Park, with station
volunteers reacting to the news at 2.00pm on Tuesday 25th March.

The contact for the photo opportunity is Jo Graham on 0161 920 3547.

The FM licence will initially run for five years from the start of
transmission, which can start within two years.