Future Of Blast106 FM Licence Under Consultation Across Causeway Coast

The future of the FM community radio licence serving Coleraine, Portrush and Portstewart is now under consultation, according to Media Ireland.

The licence is currently operated as Blast106 on 106.4FM, however the existing licence holder is considering ceasing the FM service and surrendering the licence unless an alternative proposal or operator can be identified.

It is understood that if the FM licence is surrendered, the Causeway Coast region could permanently lose its local FM radio provision, as Ofcom is no longer issuing new FM licences.

The move would result in the loss of a dedicated local FM frequency serving Coleraine, Portrush and Portstewart, reducing local broadcasting diversity and removing what many regard as an important community resource.

While Ofcom recently awarded the regional DAB multiplex licence to NIDAB Ltd, the digital service is not expected to become operational for approximately 18 months.

FM broadcasting also remains a widely used platform for listeners across many areas despite the continued growth of online and digital radio services.

Media Ireland said the current licence holder is open to discussions with organisations, groups or operators interested in taking over the licence, subject to agreement and regulatory approval.

Annual operational costs linked to maintaining the FM service, including transmission, licensing and regulatory fees, are understood to be in the region of £10,000 per year.

Any future operator would therefore need to demonstrate an ability to financially sustain the service through advertising, sponsorship, grant funding or alternative income streams.

Stakeholders, organisations, businesses and members of the public are now being invited to provide feedback on the future of local FM radio provision across the Causeway Coast region.

Questions being raised as part of the consultation include whether there is still value in having a dedicated local FM radio station, whether the licence could better serve the community under alternative management, how a future service should be funded and whether organisations would make greater use of a renewed or restructured community radio service.

The current licence holder said it would continue to meet all broadcasting obligations and licence requirements while consultations remain ongoing.

Feedback and submissions can be sent to [email protected] before the consultation deadline of 31 May 2026.