Olswang has acted for long-standing client QSoft Consulting in a transaction to transfer its Gaydar Radio DAB Broadcasting licenses to Gaydio, the UK's first FM gay radio station.

Beginning as an online radio station in 2001, Gaydar Radio won numerous industry accolades, including Sony Radio Academy and Arqiva awards. As a result of the transfer, programming for Gaydar Radio, the largest gay and lesbian station in the world, will be controlled by Gaydio from its Manchester headquarters. As part of the agreement, the Gaydar Dating brand will continue to be supported by on air editorial programming and advertising support.

The combined radio licences will create the single biggest radio station for the UK LGBT community, bringing together Gaydar Radio's 750,000 listeners per month (RAJAR/IPSOS MORI) and Gaydio's 100,000 listeners per month.

With a portfolio of multi-platform brands reaching almost 9 million registered users, QSoft Consulting will now be able to focus on its core business interests, which include the gaydar.co.uk and gaydargirls.com dating sites, as well as mobile sites and apps.

Trevor Martin, CEO of QSoft Consulting said: "The transfer of the DAB license to Gaydio will ensure that the time and money invested in Gaydar Radio will continue to live on and be supported in an appropriate way, with the support of the Gaydio FM license. The challenges of the DAB radio sector have been well documented and were increasingly holding QSoft Consulting back from investing in its core dating business, which continues to expand in the UK and internationally. We were lucky to have Olswang's team helping us on this crucial transaction, as they know the industry and helped us to tie up these arrangements quickly and efficiently."

John Enser, Partner at Olswang, commented: "Making a digital-only radio station commercially viable is a challenge that QSoft Consulting managed to turn into an opportunity for the industry, creating the biggest LGBT media outlet in the UK. With this transfer, the LGBT community will have radio programming across FM, DAB and online broadcasting platforms. We were delighted to support QSoft Consulting in this transaction, which ensures their business will enjoy a renewed focus and their successful brands will continue to thrive under a consolidated structure."

The Olswang team was led by Partner John Enser, who was supported by Jill Pollock (commercial), Stephen Hignett (tax) and Melanie Lane (employment).

http://www.olswang.com/news/2013/01/olswang-helps-qsoft-to-transfer-gay…