126/99 3 September 1999
RADIO AUTHORITY AWARDS LOCAL DIGITAL MULTIPLEX LICENCE FOR SOUTH YORKSHIRE
The Radio Authority announced today (3 September) that it has decided, after considering the proposals submitted for the local digital multiplex service licence for the South Yorkshire area, to award the licence to the sole applicant:
EMAP DIGITAL RADIO LTD. - Emap Radio Ltd., The Network Building, 97 Tottenham Court Road, London W1P 9HF (contact: Tim Schoonmaker, 0171 504 6010; or Steve King, 0113 283 5512).
The licence is designed potentially to deliver digital radio programming and data services to an area with an adult (aged 15+) population of 1.25 million, broadly corresponding to the coverage of existing Sheffied-based local radio stations.
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 South Yorkshire area, each provided initially on a round-the-clock basis:
Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR) |
Hallam FM (programme provider: Emap Radio Ltd.) |
Easy Listening |
Magic (programme provider: Emap Radio Ltd.) |
Dance |
Kiss (programme provider: Emap Radio Ltd.) |
Full service (Doncaster and Bassetlaw) |
Trax FM (programme provider: Lincs FM plc) |
Gold |
Classic Gold (programme provider: GWR Digital Ltd.) |
Modern Rock Adult Contemporary |
Xfm (programme provider: Capital Radio plc) Programme provider: to be decided |
In addition to these commercial services, the BBC local radio station in this area, Radio Sheffield, will be broadcast using the digital capacity reserved for it.
The applicant proposes to commence its service by October 2000, initially using two transmission sites, at Clifton and Tapton Hill, which it estimates will provide 'outdoor coverage' of some 81% of the adult population of the South Yorkshire 'primary protected area' (PPA). It proposes to extend coverage subsequently by the addition of transmissions from Chesterfield and Ardsley, increasing 'outdoor coverage' to an estimated 92% of the PPA population.
The licence will run initially for a period of twelve years from the commencement of broadcasting. The annual licence fee payable will be £250.
The Authority will shortly be publishing its assessment of Emap Digital Radio’s application for the South Yorkshire 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. 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 South Yorkshire 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.
