MDA launches tender for two FM frequencies (Amended)

THE Media Development Authority has launched a public tender to seek proposals to operate commercial or not-for-profit radio stations on two FM frequencies - FM 89.3 and FM 96.3.

The FM 89.3 spectrum is vacant while FM 96.3, currently occupied by Expat Radio 96.3 XFM, will be vacated by September 2016 upon the expiry of its operating licence.

MDA said that it welcomes new concepts and will not limit proposals to any particular genre or programming format.

This is in line with its attempt to include the widest range of proposals possible and inject greater vibrancy into the local radio scene.

"All proposals will be evaluated based on the strength of programming characteristics and quality, as well as the financial standing of the tenderers and their business plans," MDA added.

Monetary bids will be required from those looking to operate commercial radio stations on the two frequencies while tenderers submitting not-for-profit proposals will be evaluated on the social impact of their programming concepts.

Interested parties can download the tender document from here.

The tender opens on Wednesday (June 15) and will close on Sept 14, 2016. Results will be announced by the first quarter of 2017.

Correction: The story has been updated to include the correct link for downloading the tender document, after MDA corrected the link which it had erroneously sent in its press release.