Chrysalis today confirmed plans to bid for the third West Midlands regional FM licence.

The station Chrysalis plans to launch is 'WBC', and will be similar in style to its LBC 97.3fm station in London, offering a mix of news, sport, business, advice and phone-in shows and lifestyle features in a 100% speech format. The group promises to provide "healthy competition" to BBC local station BBC WM.

Paul Fairburn, Managing Director of Chrysalis Radio Midlands, said: "This licence provides an exciting opportunity for the West Midlands to have a genuinely distinctive speech station and provide a compelling alternative to the BBC."

Chrysalis notes that the station would be able to share infrastructure with the group's Heart 100.7 FM station in Birmingham.

Virgin Radio and The Storm will also be putting in bids for the licence.