Talk Radio To Provide, Not Operate, Digital Radio

Talk Radio announced today that it will not be taking up the option of a 10% share in Digital One, the consortium which was recently awarded the national digital commercial multiplex by the Radio Authority (see Newsline).

Talk’s new chairman, Kelvin MacKenzie, whose consortium TalkCo took over the station earlier this year (see Newsline), said that Talk was more interested in providing radio content than operating multiplexes. He commented: “We remain totally committed to the development of digital radio. I believe whole-heartedly in the digital future and thanks to the foresight of Ralph Bernard (GWR’s chief executive) Britain will lead the world in this technology.”

Ralph Bernard, who was recently made a fellow by the Radio Academy (see Newsline), is also chairman of Digital One, and said: “We totally understand Talk’s position at this time, and are pleased that they remain firmly committed to digital radio, and, in particular, that the provision of both their planned services on Digital One’s multiplex remains unaltered.”

As well as offering a digital servcie of its present analogue one, Talk will also be providing the multiplex’s sports service.

Talk Radio: 0171 636 1089 Digital One: 0171 344 2718