Radio Authority Advertises National Digital Licence

The Radio Authority today placed an ad in the FT for the first and only national commercial digital radio multiplex.

The licence is granted for a period of twelve years and some of its capacity is reserved for broadcasting the three existing national commercial stations. Remaining capacity may accommodate a range of new national services, the number and type of which are for applicants to propose.

Applications for the licence will be considered according to a number of factors and not on a highest cash-bid basis. Factors which the Authority will take into account include: how much of the UK applicants plan to serve and by what timetable this will be achieved; whether applicants appear sufficiently resourced to deliver their proposals; to what extent the new services will appeal to a variety of tastes and interests; how listeners will be encouraged to buy new radio sets.

The deadline for applications is 23 June and the Authority aims to award the licence in the Autumn.

Radio Authority: 0171 430 2724