53/03

11 April 2003

 

Radio Authority awards local digital multiplex licence for Kent

The Radio Authority announced today (11 April) that it has decided, after considering the proposals submitted by the sole applicant for the local digital multiplex licence to serve most parts of the county of Kent, to award the licence to:

CAPITAL RADIO DIGITAL LTD. - 30 Leicester Square, London,
WC2H 7LA (contact: Nathalie Schwarz, 020 7766 6166; or Bob Hoad, 01227 772004).

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 Radio Kent:

Contemporary hit radio

Invicta FM (provider: Radio Invicta Ltd.)

Gold

Capital Gold (provider: Radio Invicta Ltd.)

AC and classic hits, local news

Kent Digital Extra (provider: Kent Digital Extra Ltd., a subsidiary of Kent Messenger Ltd.)

Credible new music

Xfm (provider: Capital Radio plc)

Easy listening

Saga Radio (provider: Saga Regional Digital

Radio Ltd.)

Dance

Kiss (provider: Emap Performance Ltd.)

          Community channel

Provider(s): to be confirmed

and a channel to be shared between:

Full local service (Swale area)

(0600-1800 hrs)

Swale Sound (provider: Swale Sound)

          and

         Alternative specialist

          (1800-0600 hrs)

Totally Radio (provider: Festival Productions

Ltd.)

Capital Radio Digital proposes to commence its service in April 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 Kent licence.


ENDS

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

  1. The services will be transmitted on the VHF band III frequency block 11C (centre frequency: 220.352 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 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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