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06|09|07

Ofcom awards new local digital radio multiplex licence for Herefordshire and Worcestershire

Ofcom today announces the award of the new local Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) radio multiplex licence to cover Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

This is one of a number of new local radio multiplex licences planned to develop DAB coverage for services in those parts of the country not already served. This licensing process will lead to a significant expansion in digital radio services throughout the UK.

By the closing date of 6 June 2007, Ofcom received two applications for the Herefordshire and Worcestershire licence. After giving careful consideration to the applications submitted, the Ofcom Radio Licensing Committee has decided to award the licence to:

MuxCo Hereford & Worcester Limited
96a Curtain Road, London EC2A 3AA
Contact: Gregory Watson, Tel: 07917 413700, Email: gregory@muxco.com

The shareholders of MuxCo Hereford & Worcester are as follows:

Murfin Media Limited	33.3%
Town & Country Broadcasting Limited	33.3%
MuxCo Limited	33.3%

MuxCo Hereford & Worcester Limited is proposing to provide eight local digital sound programme services, in addition to BBC Hereford & Worcester, as follows:

Format description	Service name	Provider
Contemporary Hit Radio	Wyvern FM	GCap Media plc
Classic Pop	Sunshine 954/1530	Classic Hits Radio Ltd
Classic Rock	Smithy Rock	Murfin Media Ltd
Youth	Shuffle	MuxCo Hereford & Worcester Ltd
Full Service	Local Live	Town & Country Broadcasting Ltd
Easy Listening	Easy Radio	Easy Radio Limited
Religious	UCB UK	United Christian Broadcasters Ltd
Traffic and Travel	Traffic Radio	Highways Agency

Ofcom estimates that this licence could achieve coverage of an area with an adult (aged 15+) population of around 586,000.

The licence will be issued for a twelve year period. MuxCo is committed to launching its service by September 2008.

Ofcom will publish a statement setting out the key determining factors for the award of this licence shortly.

Ends.

Notes for Editors

1. DAB radio multiplexes carry a number of stereo and/or mono radio channels, as well as multimedia services such as text and data.

2. Today's licence is part of a wider licensing process which will lead to a significant expansion in local and national DAB radio services over the next three years. Further details can be found within Ofcom's 'Future licensing of DAB digital radio' Statement at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/dab/statement/.

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