Main transmitter option 1 - 94.6

The main transmitter for a South and West Yorkshire service with similar coverage to Real Radio, located at Emley Moor or Holme Moss would use 94.6. The signal would have to be screened against Stoke to prevent interference to BBC Stoke. Interference from BBC Stoke should not be a problem as Radio Aire in Leeds used to broadcast on 94.6.

To make room for the new station, a few BBC transmitters would have to change frequency:

• BBC Radios 2,3 and 4 at Pendle Forest for East Lancashire would have to move from 90.2/92.6/94.6 to 88.2/90.2/92.6.
• BBC Sheffield at Chesterfield would have to move from 94.7 to 99.9 or 88.1.

Main transmitter option 2 - 99.8

An alternative frequency for the main transmitter at Emley Moor or Holme Moss is 99.8.

This would require Burnley station 2BR to move from 99.8 to 100.0 102.2. Although these frequencies are 10.7 MHz away from the main Radio 2 and 3 frequencies for the North, the Burnley area is served by national radio fillers using the same transmitter as 2BR. In addition, the new Hull service on 99.9 would have to move to 103.1 or 105.4.

Main transmitter option 3 - 88.0

A further alternative frequency for the main transmitter at Emley Moor or Holme Moss is 88.0.

This would not require any permanent stations to change frequency, but RSLs in Yorkshire that currently use 87.6-88.0 would have to be accommodated elsewhere.

Main transmitter option 4 - 106.8

The last possibility for the main transmitter at Emley Moor or Holme Moss is 106.8.

This would require Ridings FM in Wakefield to move from 106.8 to 97.8 and Trax FM in Doncaster to move from 107.1 to 99.8, with the new Hull service on 99.9 moving to 103.1 or 105.4. It may also affect Ofcom's plans for new stations in the North East.

Fillers for options 1 to 4

There are two main options for the Bradford and Sheffield fillers:

• Both on 95.7.
• Both on 100.8, noting that Classic FM has fillers for both cities, so the proximity to the main Classic frequency should not be a problem. Alternatively, the Classic fillers could be moved to 100.8 and their current frequencies used for the new station.

This would still leave 104.5 available for a BBC local radio filler at Bradford.

If a filler at Leeds Beecroft Hill is needed due to the main transmitter using Holme Moss, 100.1 could be used. This is 10.8 MHz away from the main R2 transmitter from the North, but Radio 2 also has a filler at Beecroft Hill.

Lastly, if main transmitter option 3 is selected, 87.6 would be suitable for the Bradford and Sheffield fillers.

Option 5 - local stations

An alternative option, which does not require any existing station to move frequency is to provide two separate stations for Leeds/Bradford and for Sheffield on the following frequencies:

• Leeds on 107.3 (if the frequency is not used in Halifax). It may be possible to cover most of West Yorkshire if the transmitter is sited at Emley Moor. Coverage from Morley would be more restricted due to the need to avoid interference to Trax 107.1.
• Leeds on 97.8. Using the Morley transmitter, this would also cover Wakefield and Dewsbury. However, Beecroft Hill may have to be used to limit power in the direction of Wharfedale Radio 1 on 98 and The Pulse Bradford on 97.5 without reducing Leeds coverage too much. Alternatively, 88.0 could be used.
• Bradford on 95.7, 100.8 (must use Idle site) or 104.5.
• Sheffield on 95.7, 96.7 or 100.8 (the latter two frequencies must use Tapton Hill/Crosspool). Sheffield may have to use a separate frequency to Bradford if carrying a separate station.

Note that better coverage for Bradford and Sheffield may be obtained by moving the Classic FM relays to 100.8 and opening new stations on 100.3 and 101.7, respectively.