Growth in UK radio continues apace with the news that the British regular Ofcom has awarded a new Manchester FM radio licence to Guardian Media Group.

The new station will be called RockTalk, target 35 to 64 year olds and be the fabled FM talk format; sixty percent issues-based talk, forty percent guitar rock music.

Guardian already owns 100.4 Smooth FM and 105.4 Century FM in the northern English city, as well as the Manchester Evening News.

Part of the station’s appeal to Ofcom was the commitment to running a 24 hour local newsroom.

Rather than directly auction spectrum, the regulator also chooses new commercial licencees based on their intended format and potential ability to service a need in the community.