RA Receives One Application For National Digital Multiplex

As expected the Radio Authority this morning received only one application for the national digital multiplex radio licence, from the Digital One consortium. The only other group in contention, Digital Media Broadcasting, announced this morning that it had pulled out of applying due to lack of industry interest in digital audio broadcasting (DAB) (see Digital Radio Is In An ‘Unlockable Downward Spiral’, Says DMB Chief).

Digital One, lead by GWR Group and backed by NTL and Talk Radio, is proposing to broadcast ten programme services three of which are to be the existing independent national radio (INR) stations: Classic FM, Virgin Radio and Talk Radio. Other services include:

24 Hours

• Classic Gold Rock – popular classic rock album tracks from 60s to today (to be provided by NTL Digital Radio)
• Soft AC – female-biased service playing a wide range of adult contemporary music (provider not decided)
• Teen & Chart Hits – mainstream chart hits of today and last few years (to be provided by GWR)

1900-0600

• Club Dance – genres of dance and classic dance music (provider not decided)

0600-1900

• Plays/Books/Comedy – serialisations, reviews, comedy and ‘one-off’ productions (provider not decided)

0600-0000

• Rolling News – world, national and regional news and information (to be provided by ITN)

1900-0000 weekdays, 1200-1900 weekends

• Sports Channel – sports commentary, comment and coverage (to be provided by Talk Radio).

Digital One is hoping to reach 69% of the country at launch and 85% by the end of the third year of operation. It plans to work with retailers and manufacturers to promote the take-up of digital radio receivers, to achieve a penetration of 40% of households by 2009.

Digital One is to pay the Radio Authority £10,000 per annum for the licence and will begin broadcasting in October next year if its application is successful.

Radio Authority: 0171 405 7058