Capital Radio and Emap have announced that they have entered into a joint 50:50 venture to bid for and operate local digital radio multiplexes in the London, Birmingham and Manchester areas.
If the bid is successful, both parties will simulcast their existing stations, and their analogue licences will be automatically renewed for a further six to eight years.
Usually commercial radio rivals, the two groups are collaborating to cut the costs of launching the services, but it is not yet known how digital multiple costs will be distributed between service providers and multiples owners.
Tim Schoonmaker, chief executive at Emap Radio, expressed an interest in bringing other parties into the project: “We support the CRCA and the UK Digital Radio Forum in their quest for additional digital spectrum to allow all commercial radio stations to participate in digital radio. We’re keen to talk to all companies who wish to take part in this new medium.”
The Radio Authority awarded Digital One, the consortium group owned by GWR, NTL and Talk Radio, the national digital radio multiplex licence in October, (see Newsline). Capital decided not to bid for the national multiplex after deciding transmission costs would be too high (see Newsline).
David Mansfield, chief executive at Capital Radio, commented on the venture: “We are delighted to have formed this alliance with Emap whose stations provide a good complementary fit with our own services. Although it will take time, digital radio will be an important and exciting broadcast medium in the future and we intend to be at the forefront of developing local digital radio.”
The licences will be made available by the Radio Authority over the next 18 months.
Emap Radio: 0171 504 6000 Capital Radio: 0171 766 6155 Radio Authority: 0171 430 2724
