The Reading Evening Post will work with the news and sports team at New City FM to provide a comprehensive local coverage.

The paper is part of a business group which won the FM radio licence to cover the Berkshire town.

New City FM won an eight-year licence to serve the latest booming regional capital of the Thames Valley, beating competition from four other applicants.

It comprises Surrey and Berkshire Newspapers – publisher of the Reading Evening Post and a subsidiary of Guardian Media Group – the Goodhead Group, owned by Reading Football Club chairman John Madejski, and Milestone Radio, the controlling company for Kick FM in Newbury and Kestrel FM in Basingstoke.

The Radio Authority said New City FM had won the licence because of its strong business plan, credible backing and links with the neighbouring stations – and the Evening Post, which aside from news input will also provide the station with marketing and promotional opportunities. Reading Football Club will also feature strongly.

Evening Post editor Andy Murrill said: “I am extremely excited about New City FM as it will help us reach an even wider audience. By working together, the newspaper and the radio station can provide Reading people with an unbeatable news service and bring the community together.

“The strong relationship between the Evening Post and New City FM will ensure we maximise every opportunity in the multi-media age.”

The station aims to be on air by the autumn and has appointed experienced broadcaster Tony Grundy as launch managing director.

He said: “New City FM has tremendous potential and will be a strong player in a very competitive marketplace – already the response from community groups to business leaders has been superb.

“The unique partnership of a daily newspaper, Division 1 football club and successful neighbouring stations gives us great local expertise and many exciting opportunities.”

It will be a music-led station for an audience aged between 25 and 54 and play a mix of ‘adult contemporary’ music from the last 40 years.

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