Surprise and excitement for new Northampton community radio station after Ofcom grants licence

A new community radio station will be 'stirring things up' in Northampton after being given a broadcasting licence by Ofcom.

The team at Embrace Radio can get started on finding a studio in the town as the station goes from the internet to DAB digital speakers.

Programme director Terry Doyle said: "It is going to be a music and local news station with something for the entire audience.

"It's going to be very professional with a hit-mix of music - it's that kind of feel, it will be young, lively and vibrant with local news and local information."

Embrace Radio was one of two community radio stations in Northampton to earn a broadcast licence from Ofcom on Wednesday (July 22).

Revolution Radio was also handed permission to broadcast on DAB while Inspiration FM had its 10-year licence renewed.

While Revolution is starting from scratch, Embrace has been broadcasting on its website for five years as a practice ground for presenters, according to Terry.

The plan had been to get a slot on the new SSDAB frequencies, standing for small-scale, which would allow community radio stations onto DAB for a fraction of the current price.

But when the chance came up earlier this year to get a licence when Inspiration FM's was up for renewal, they jumped at it and were successful.

The triple licence handout was an unexpected decision from the communications regulator with it being historically difficult to find space on FM frequencies.

After 35 years of living in Northampton, most of those spent working in radio, Terry said he has never known a time when the town had so much choice on the airwaves.

"When the chance came up to apply for a licence, it was an opportunistic move by us and we had no idea that Northampton was going to get another two community radio stations," he said.

"We were told the day before that we had got it, thinking the others had lost out, but I suppose Inspiration and Revolution were probably told the same thing!

"I think Embrace and Revolution will make a stir because we're professional broadcasters and I think it will be good for the town."

For more information, visit embraceradio.co.uk.