The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland has awarded the Dublin-based station NewsTalk 106 a 10-year licence to provide extensive news programmes to most parts of the Republic.
High-profile presenters such as Eamon Dunphy and rugby analyst George Hook are expected to begin broadcasting on the national airwaves by October.
Since 2002 the station has served Dublin city and county. Although it will now provide coverage of most parts of the Republic, it will not, under the terms of what is described as a quasinational licence, provide universal coverage.
Initially, NewsTalk expects to gain a market share of 4 per cent of all adults, increasing eventually to 6 per cent.
The company is proposing to invest €6m in its expanded operations.
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