Benfica FM
Portuguese online radio station owned by S.L. Benfica.
Benfica FM is a radio station in Portugal owned by the sports club S.L. Benfica. It launched exclusively online on 11 December 2025. The station had hoped to reach FM listeners through a deal with Bauer Media, which would have given it access to Batida FM’s four transmitters in Lisbon, Porto, and other locations, but Portugal’s communications regulator, ERC, rejected that plan as of March 2026.
The idea for the station was first announced in December 2017, with a planned launch in 2018. At that time, S.L. Benfica intended to broadcast all home matches from Estádio da Luz exclusively on the radio network for at least two years, mirroring what its television channel, Benfica TV, had done since 2013. This would have shifted priorities within the club’s audiovisual division. By September 2018, the project still lacked an ERC license.
Over the following years, the launch was repeatedly delayed. In 2020, it was considered a digital-only project. By June 2021, the station was testing in “pilot status” on the Benfica Play platform, with full operations depending on sufficient revenue. The project resurfaced in June 2025, aiming to debut during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, in which S.L. Benfica was competing. Studios were nearly finished by then. On 9 July 2025, the club asked ERC to approve an association agreement with Bauer Media to take over Batida FM’s transmitter network, which included the original station in Amadora and relays in Moita, Maia, and Cantanhede. The name Benfica FM was chosen over BFM to avoid confusion with the French network BFM Business. The license application described coverage of national and international sports news, plus music programming focused on new and emerging artists. ERC rejected the proposal, but the club said it would continue seeking FM frequencies.
Benfica FM finally began broadcasting online on 11 December 2025, starting at 19:04—a nod to the club’s founding year—with the program *Mais Vale Tarde*. Club vice-president José Gandarez told *Record* that the station aimed to become self-sustaining and eventually generate profits. It broadcasts from the former Benfica TV studio.
- Field
- Radio broadcasting
- Nationality
- Portuguese
- Known for
- Online radio station of S.L. Benfica
Lore & Background
S.L. Benfica first announced the launch of Benfica FM in December 2017, intending to carry exclusive rights to all home matches at Estádio da Luz in 2018 and at least 2019, similar to its television counterpart Benfica TV. By September 2018 the project lacked an ERC license, and over time it was delayed several times, being considered a digital project in 2020. In June 2021 the station was already testing on the Benfica Play platform in pilot status, with the condition that it would become a full-fledged operation only if enough revenue was generated.
The idea resurfaced in June 2025, with an initial plan to launch during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, in which S.L. Benfica participated; by then the studios were almost finished. On 9 July 2025, S.L. Benfica requested an arrangement with ERC to sign an association agreement with Bauer Media to take over the Batida FM transmitter network, which included the original station in Amadora plus relay stations Batida FM Moita, Batida FM Maia and Batida FM Cantanhede. The team registered the name Benfica FM instead of BFM to avoid allusions to the French network BFM Business. The license stipulated coverage of national and international sports news and dedicated airtime to music, especially from new and emerging artists. ERC later rejected the proposal, but S.L. Benfica promised to obtain its FM frequencies.
On 11 December 2025, Benfica FM started broadcasting entirely online, opening at 19:04 with Mais Vale Tarde as its inaugural program. Benfica vice-president José Gandarez stated that the station had a long-term goal of becoming self-sustaining and even generating positive results. The station broadcasts from the former Benfica TV room.
Reader's Guide
Benfica FM represents S.L. Benfica's expansion into radio broadcasting, following the model of its television channel Benfica TV. Its significance lies in the club's attempt to control its own media output, offering exclusive coverage of home matches and sports news alongside music programming. The station's launch history illustrates the challenges of obtaining regulatory approval in Portugal, as the ERC rejected the proposed FM frequency arrangement with Bauer Media. Despite this, the station began as an online-only operation in December 2025, with the club expressing commitment to eventually securing FM frequencies. The station's programming includes national and international sports news and a focus on new and emerging artists, reflecting a blend of sports journalism and music discovery. Its legacy is still developing, but it marks a notable step in the club's audiovisual strategy, aiming for financial self-sustainability.
Did You Know?
- Benfica FM started broadcasting on 11 December 2025 at 19:04, alluding to its year of founding.
- The station's inaugural program was titled Mais Vale Tarde.
- The ERC rejected Benfica FM's proposal to use Batida FM's four-transmitter network for FM frequencies.
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