Global Radio is likely to be forced to sell stations in the North of England after the Competition Commission rejected its appeal this afternoon.
It comes following the multi-million pound acquisition of GMG Radio last year. In May, after a 6 month investigation, the Competition Commission stated that in order for the deal to be completed, it would have to sell 7 stations.
The Commission felt that it would cause reduced competition in a number of areas, including the North West, South and West Yorkshire, the North East and North Wales.
It ruled that Global would have to sell or dispose of stations including: Real or Heart in North Wales; Capital or Real XS with either Real or Smooth in Manchester and the North West; Real or Smooth or Capital in the North East; and Real or Capital in Yorkshire.
Last month, Ashley Tabor, stated that the Commission’s decision to investigate the deal was an “error.”
Global bought GMG in June 2012 for £70m. Since the acquisition, Smooth’s programming team has moved to its London headquarters in Leicester Square.
Nobody was available for comment at Global Radio at the time of publication.
