Ofcom has launched a public consultation after receiving a request from UTV to co-locate Valleys Radio outside its licensed area.
The request is for UTV to move Valleys Radio's existing studios over 30 miles from the present location, to join UTV stations Swansea Sound and The Wave in a new complex near Neath.
Radio Valleys has an official MCA of 475,315 adults. Ofcom guidelines indicate that there is likely to be a stronger case for co-location where a population of less than 250,000 is involved, but the regulator has agreed to look at requests to co-locate larger stations in exceptional circumstances.
The guidelines were drawn up to take into account the pressures on smaller stations operating stand-alone services when cost-sharing with a neighbouring station might alleviate some of the pressure.
Ofcom have launched a four-week public consultation on the matter.
