[LondonViewer]

As far as I can tell local radio can still be profitable, but bigger brands with deep pockets are stifling that.

Absolutely. If the political will was there to licence ILR. Strange that Clyde1 et al are maintaining brand names (for now) & more importantly producing more local hours. *cough* SNP.

The destruction of local media in this country, through Gov policy, has been shocking. Huge losses to a local sense of identity, local news coverage and ultimately local democracy. Big impact on opportunities for people that don’t live in London or Manchester to work in media.

If successive Governments placed such little value on local media then they should have just scrapped local licences and ran an auction for a couple of National services.

I think we’re getting to the point where turning FM off and using the frequencies for something else would be of more value.