A TOTAL of 14 radio stations are fighting it out for the brand-new Solent commercial radio licence - with nearly all of them targeting the middle-aged.

The deadline to enter the bidding race passed on Thursday May 5 and Ofcom has now confirmed the full list of prospective stations they will be considering.

Of the 14 contenders, a staggering 10 applications are targeting the lucrative 35 to 70 market, claiming this age range is currently poorly catered for.

This includes Celador Radio Broadcasting's the Coast 106, a bid fronted by Chris Tarrant, Sir David Frost and Esther Rantzen, and the Arrow, an adult rock station for the "baby boomer generation".

But they will face stiff competition from classic rock station C106, easy listening station Melody 106, album-led station Original 106 FM, Saga 106 FM, Smooth Solent, Solent Life 106 FM, South Coast Radio and Tide FM - all also targeting the 40 plus.

Meridian TV presenter Fred Dineage is hoping for success with All Talk FM Solent, a 24-hour speech radio station offering "lively and entertaining talkback radio."

And established radio broadcasting companies Kerrang! 106 and Virgin Classic Rock are also bidding for the licence in a bid to expand into the Solent region.

The final contender is 106 Fun FM, a radio station for pre-school and primary school children, their families and carers.

Whoever wins the licence will be able to broadcast across Bournemouth, Poole, East Dorset and South Hampshire to around 1.25million listeners.

Ofcom will make a decision in the next few months and is encouraging members of the public to contact them with their views about the type of service required.

Opinions can either be e-mailed to commercialradio@ofcom.org.uk or posted to Neil Stock, head of radio planning and licensing, Ofcom, Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA. Envelopes should be marked "Solent".

First published: May 7