72/01

7 June 2001

The Radio Authority announced today (7 June) that it has decided, after considering the proposals submitted by the three applicants for the third digital multiplex service licence for the Greater London area, to award the licence to:

The licence is designed to deliver digital radio programming and data services potentially to an area with an adult (aged 15+) population of up to around 8.5 million in the Greater London area.

The shareholders in the Digital Radio Group (London) Ltd. are:

GWR Group plc 20%

The Wireless Group plc 20%

SMG plc 10%

Matsushita Electric Europe Ltd. 10%

RMG (Ritz Media Group) plc 10%

Carphone Warehouse plc 6%

Asian Sound Ltd. 6%

Clubmend Ltd. 6%

Channelfly plc 6%

Time Out Ltd. 6%

The Digital Radio Group (London) Ltd. (DRg) is proposing to broadcast a total of eleven programme services. These will be provided on a round-the-clock basis, apart from Abracadabra (broadcast from 06.00 to 19.00), SBN (from 19.00 to 06.00) and Time Out Live (from 06.00 to midnight):

DRg proposes to commence broadcasting all but one of its services in December 2001 (with Passion for London to commence within twelve months of the launch of the multiplex). 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 DRg's application for the Greater London licence.

1. The services will be transmitted on the VHF band III frequency block 11B (centre-frequency 218.640 MHz).
2. 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.
3. The Authority has already awarded a national digital radio multiplex licence, to Digital One Ltd., and two local multiplex licences for London, to CE Digital Ltd. and Switch Digital Ltd., whose services are already on air. 23 other local multiplex licences elsewhere in the UK have also been awarded.
4. If an existing local radio station successfully secures a place on a local digital multiplex covering at least 25% of its area's population, it can apply to have its analogue licence renewed for a further eight years.

 

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.