Home > Media and Analysts > News Release Archive > 2007 > Nov > 08|11|07

08|11|07

Ofcom awards new local digital radio multiplex licence for Oxfordshire

Ofcom today announces the award of the new local Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) radio multiplex licence for Oxfordshire.

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 7 August 2007, Ofcom received two applications for the Oxfordshire licence. After giving careful consideration to the applications submitted, the Ofcom Radio Licensing Committee has decided to award the licence to:

NOWdigital (Oxford) Ltd

30 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7LA

Contact: Andy Causby, Tel: 020 7054 8000, Email: andy.causby@GCapmedia.com

The shareholders of NOWdigital (Oxford) are as follows:

NOW Digital Ltd (GCap Media plc) (75%)

Passion Radio (Oxford) Ltd (25%)

NOWdigital (Oxford) Ltd is proposing to provide eight local digital sound programme services, in addition to BBC Radio Oxford, as follows:

Format description	Service name	Provider
Contemporary and Chart Music	Fox FM	GCap Media plc
Modern Rock	Xfm	GCap Media plc
Variety pop and rock	Jack FM - Oxfordshire	Absolute Radio International Ltd.
Hit Music, Dance and R&B	Oxford’s FM 107.9	Absolute Radio International Ltd.
Soft Adult Alternative	My-fm Oxfordshire	Absolute Radio International Ltd.
Adult Contemporary	To be confirmed	To be confirmed
Religious	UCB UK	United Christian Broadcasters Ltd
Local 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 490,000.

The licence will be issued for a twelve year period. NOWdigital (Oxford) Ltd is committed to launching seven of its programme services by October 2008. The eighth service, MY-fm Oxfordshire, will begin broadcasting within six months of the launch of the multiplex.

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/.

Back to top