Radio Authority awards local digital multiplex licence for Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Telford

176/99 10 December 1999

RADIO AUTHORITY AWARDS LOCAL DIGITAL MULTIPLEX LICENCE FOR WOLVERHAMPTON, SHREWSBURY AND TELFORD

The Radio Authority announced today (10 December) that it has decided, after considering the proposals submitted for the local digital multiplex service licence for the Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Telford area, to award the licence to the sole applicant:

NOW DIGITAL LTD. - GWR Group plc, P.O. Box 2345, 3B2, Westlea, Swindon, Wilts. SN5 7HF (contact: Russell Stuart, 01603 630621; or Roger Brooks, 01902 838383).

The licence is designed potentially to deliver digital radio programming and data services to an area with an adult (aged 15+) population of 1.1 million.

Now Digital Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the GWR Group plc. The applicant is proposing to broadcast a total of nine programme services in the Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Telford area, each provided initially on a round-the-clock basis:

Contemporary Hit Radio	Beacon FM (programme provider: Beacon Broadcasting Ltd.)

Gold	Classic Gold WABC (programme provider: Beacon Broadcasting Ltd.)

Male Rock	Programme provider: GWR Digital Ltd.

Classic Soul	Programme provider: Digital Programme Services Ltd.

Modern Rock	Xfm (programme provider: Capital Radio plc)

Asian	Sunrise Radio (programme provider: Sunrise Radio Ltd.)

Student Radio	WCR (programme provider: WCRT Ltd.)

In addition to these commercial services, the two existing BBC local radio services, Radio WM and Radio Shropshire, will be broadcast using the digital capacity reserved for them.

The applicant proposes to commence its service in January 2001, initially using two transmission sites, at The Wrekin and Turners Hill, which it estimates will provide 'outdoor coverage' of some 91% of the adult population of the Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Telford 'primary protected area' (PPA). It proposes to extend coverage subsequently by the addition of transmissions from Wolverhampton University, increasing 'outdoor coverage' to an estimated 94% 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 £100.

The Authority will shortly be publishing its assessment of Now Digital's application for the Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Telford 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. 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 Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Telford 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.

Contact:
Press enquiries:
Julie McCatty, Chief Press Officer: 020 7887 4292
Kerry Curtis, Press & Information Officer: 020 7887 4290
Out of hours 07770 375283

General enquiries:
Press and Information Office: 020 7887 4294 or 020 7405 7058