Bermuda could get its own version of ‘American Idol' if a proposal for two local radio stations gets the go-ahead.

The Telecommunications Commission yesterday heard an application from Inter-Island Communication Ltd. to get a licence for two FM radio stations, Hott 98.1 FM and Smooth 107.5 FM.

“The buzz on the Island would be as if Oprah had landed,” said Elroy Smith, a Bermudian broadcaster based in Chicago who is the chief executive officer of the new company. “I want to feel the same local flavour that you find when you listen to the radio in Barbados or in Bahamas. I want Bermuda's radio to be exciting again.”

The owners propose to have Hott as the main money earner, going head to head with Power 95, in a bid to attract its audience as a “urban” or black radio station playing hip hop, reggae, Caribbean, R&B, old school and popular music.

Smooth will be an interactive community, new and talk format with live sports and political debates as well as religious programming.

Both stations will broadcast seven news programmes daily, with Hott having local programming and live DJs from 6 a.m. to midnight.

And as one of the pulls for the programme will be holding a ‘Bermuda Idol' competition in a bid to help identify local talent.

For full story see Business, Page 15.