Radio Authority Advertises Second London Digital Multiplex

The Radio Authority will advertise the second local digital radio multiplex licence for London on Friday 10 September. Provision for two extra licences for the area was granted last week, after the first licence was awarded to the CE Digital Consortium (see Capital And EMAP Win First London Digital Licence).

Chrysalis has already confirmed that it intends to bid for the licence in some form although its will be re-evaluating its application in the light of last weeks announcement. Chief executive of Chrysalis, Phil Riley, confirmed that the main change to the original line-up would be the loss of the LBC service, provided by London News Radio, which is to be used by the CE Digital consortium. The group must also create space for GLR as part of the Radio Authority requirements.

The other possible contender is Switch Digital, formed by Talk Radio, Virgin Radio, Clear Channel and Castle Transmission, who said yesterday they had not decided whether they will make a bid for the licence.

This is the tenth advertisement the Radio Authority has made, at the rate of one per month. The London licence was the only one for which more than one consortium applied. Last week also saw announcements for two further regions; the award for the South Yorkshire region went to sole applicant Emap Digital Radio and Score Digital was awarded the licence for Glasgow. Both will broadcast eight programme services within their areas.

Radio Authority: 0171 430 2724