165/01

20 November 2001

The Radio Authority's closing date for receipt of applications for the local digital multiplex service licence for the city of Leicester and the surrounding area was today (20 November). This 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 670,000.

In addition to providing a range of commercial services, each applicant for this licence is required to reserve capacity for the broadcasting in digital form of the existing BBC local radio service, Radio Leicester.

Two applications have been submitted. Details of the applicants and their proposals are as follows:

Emap Digital Radio Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Emap Performance Ltd.

This applicant is proposing to broadcast ten programme services, in addition to BBC Radio Leicester, on a round-the-clock basis:

[* = subject to agreement after award]

Some variations of digital capacity usage are proposed at certain off-peak and weekend periods, enabling other services also to be broadcast:

Emap Digital Radio proposes to commence broadcasting all of its services, subject to confirmation of contracts, in November 2002, using six transmission sites (at Copt Oak, Waltham, Skeffington, Boundry water tower, Empingham, and Barwell water tower), which it estimates will provide noise-limited 'outdoor coverage' of 91.6% of the adult population of the Leicester 'primary protected area' (PPA).

The shareholders in Now Digital (East Midlands) Ltd. are:

Now Digital Ltd. (GWR Group plc) 52.5%

Sabras Sound Ltd. 20.0%

Capital Radio plc 20.0%

Chrysalis Radio Ltd. 7.5%

This applicant is proposing to broadcast eight programme services, in addition to BBC Radio Leicester, all of them on a round-the-clock basis:

NDEM proposes to commence broadcasting all of its services, with the possible exception of the new regional service (or alternative), subject to agreement of contracts, in November 2002, initially using two transmitters, at Copt Oak and Waltham, which it estimates will provide noise-limited 'outdoor coverage' of 84.2% of the adult population of the PPA. A third transmitter, at Skeffington, would be introduced during the first two years of operation, increasing 'outdoor coverage' to an estimated 88.3%. NDEM has identified a further two transmitters, at Boundry water tower and Empingham, which would increase 'outdoor coverage' to around 92%; their introduction would be reviewed during the licence period.

The applicants' proposals (other than financial and technical information which has been submitted in confidence) are available for study by the public in the reference section of Leicester Central Library, and at the Authority's offices in London. The Authority invites representations from the public on the proposals put forward by the applicants and upon the requirements of listeners. These should be sent in writing to the Director of Development, The Radio Authority, Holbrook House, 14 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5DG, to arrive by Monday, 28 January 2002.

The Authority hopes to announce its decision about the award of this licence early in the New Year.

The applications for the licence will be 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 each applicant to establish its 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 legislation also requires the broadening of local digital radio choice to be taken into account;
• local support for each applicant's proposals;
• whether the applicants have been fair in contracting with the prospective providers of programme and data services on the multiplex.

The licence has been advertised to run initially for a period of twelve years from the commencement of broadcasting.

A non-refundable application fee of £5,000 has been paid by each applicant.

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., whose services are available in this area.
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.