Radio bids bring in $13m

By PETER GRIFFIN

A Government auction of FM radio spectrum covering the Auckland region has concluded with final bids totalling almost $13 million for the two available licences.

Aucklanders can look forward to the arrival of two new commercial radio stations. Canadian-based broadcaster CanWest and the Radio Network picked up the lots of spectrum for $6.3 million and $6.5 million respectively.

The outcome of the auction is subject to final confirmation by the Ministry of Economic Development.

CanWest has said it plans to bring easy-listening radio station The Breeze to Auckland.

The Radio Network, 50 per cent owned by Herald publisher APN News & Media, already operates six FM licences in Auckland and 94 stations nationwide. With the acquisition of The Radio Works, CanWest owns several national radio stations and 27 local stations.

Indian businessman Sahil Shah had wanted to secure an FM radio licence to bring his Apna Indian community station to a wider audience. He pulled out as spectrum bids passed $5 million.