10/03

10 January 2003

 

 

Radio Authority awards local digital multiplex licence for Sussex Coast

The Radio Authority announced today (10 January) that it has decided, after considering the proposals submitted by the sole applicant for the local digital multiplex service licence for Brighton and other parts of the coastal area of West and East Sussex, to award the licence to:

CAPITAL RADIO DIGITAL LTD. - 30 Leicester Square, London,
WC2H 7LA (contact: Nathalie Schwarz, 020 7766 6166; or Bob Hoad, 01273 433900).

 

Capital Radio Digital Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital Radio plc.

The applicant is proposing to broadcast the following programme services, in addition to BBC Southern Counties Radio:

Contemporary hit radio

Southern FM (provider: Southern Radio Ltd.)

Gold

Capital Gold (provider: Southern Radio Ltd.)

Rhythmic modern hits

Juice 107.2 (provider: Brighton and Hove Local Radio Ltd.)

Credible new music

Xfm (provider: Capital Radio plc)

Easy listening

Saga (provider: Saga Regional Digital Radio Ltd.)

Dance

Kiss (provider: Emap Performance Ltd.)

Service for lesbians and gay men

Gaydar Radio (provider: Q Soft Media Ltd.)

and a channel to be shared between:

Local music mix/news (S.W. Sussex) (06.00-18.00)

Spirit FM (provider: South West Sussex Radio Ltd.)

Alternative specialist

(18.00-06.00)

Totally Radio (provider: Festival Productions Ltd.)

Capital Radio Digital proposes to commence its service in January 2004. 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 Capital Radio Digital's application for the Sussex Coast licence.


ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

  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 also available in most of this local 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.

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Revised: January 10, 2003