49/00 7 April 2000
RADIO AUTHORITY AWARDS LOCAL DIGITAL MULTIPLEX LICENCE FOR LEEDS
The Radio Authority announced today (7 April) that it has decided, after considering the proposals submitted for the local digital multiplex service licence for the Leeds area, to award the licence to the sole applicant:
EMAP DIGITAL RADIO LTD.
The licence is designed potentially to deliver digital radio programming and data services potentially to an area with an adult (aged 15+) population of up to around 1.0 million, broadly corresponding to the coverage of existing 'first generation' Leeds ILR services.
Emap Digital Radio Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Emap Radio Ltd. It is proposing to broadcast a total of eight programme services in the Leeds area, each provided initially on a round-the-clock basis:
|
Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR) |
96.3 Aire FM (programme provider: Emap Radio Ltd.) |
|
Gold |
Classic Gold (programme provider: GWR Digital Ltd.) |
|
Dance |
Kiss (programme provider: Emap Radio Ltd.) |
|
Easy Listening |
Magic 828 (programme provider: Emap Radio Ltd.) |
|
Full service (Wakefield) |
Ridings FM (programme provider: Lincs FM plc) |
|
Modern Rock |
Xfm (programme provider: Capital Radio plc) |
|
Adult Contemporary |
Programme provider: The Wireless Group |
In addition to these commercial services, the BBC local service, Radio Leeds, will be broadcast using the digital capacity reserved for it.
Emap Digital Radio Ltd. proposes to commence its service in May 2001, initially using three transmission sites, at Morley, Beecroft Hill and Norwood Ridge, which it estimates will provide 'outdoor coverage' of at least 62% of the adult population of the Leeds 'primary protected area' (PPA). It will consider extending coverage subsequently by the addition of transmissions from two other sites, increasing 'outdoor coverage' to an estimated 70% or more of the PPA population.
The licence will run initially for a period of twelve years from the commencement of broadcasting.
The Authority will shortly be publishing its assessment of Emap Digital Radio's application for the Leeds licence.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
2. The application for the licence was considered according to factors specified in section 51 of the Broadcasting Act 1996, which are: the extent of coverage proposed, within the permitted maximum; the timetable by which this will be achieved; the ability of the applicant to establish the proposed service and maintain it throughout the licence period; the extent to which the proposed programme services will cater for the tastes and interests of listeners in the area; the broadening of local digital radio choice; local support for the applicant's proposals; and whether the applicant has been fair in contracting with the prospective providers of programme and data services on the multiplex.
3. Digital radio is a new transmission system which provides the listener with bundles (called multiplexes) of audio services to new portable and vehicle receivers, and personal computers, with unprecedentedly clear reception. Being digital, it can also broadcast data services which may or may not be related to the radio programmes; e.g. traffic information, electronic publishing, and internet-type information.
4. The Authority has already awarded a national digital radio multiplex licence, to Digital One Ltd., whose services will also be available in the Leeds area.
5. The Radio Authority is responsible for licensing and regulating Independent Radio in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996. It plans frequencies, awards licences, regulates programming and advertising, and plays an active role in the discussion and formulation of policies which affect the Independent Radio industry and its listeners.
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