The Radio Authority has received two applications for the local digital multiplex service licence for the South Wales/Severn Estuary region. The applicants, who had to submit their proposals by 14 November, are the Digital Radio Group, a consortium including The Wireless Group, GWR Group, Emap Digital Radio and SMG (see Digital Radio Group Announces Final Shareholder Line-Up), and MXR, whose members include Chrysalis, Capital and the Guardian Media Group (see MXR Consortium Joined By Psion And UBC).
The licence is designed to cover an area with potential adult population of around 2.45 million. Geographically it will take in areas of South Wales including Cardiff, Swansea and Newport, and an area on the English side of the Severn Estuary including Bristol and Bath.
The Digital Radio Group’s proposal would include nine programme services. Eight of these would operate on a round-the-clock basis. The majority of stations would be music based, with genres including Country, Jazz and current chart.
MXR is also proposing nine programme services, all on a round the clock basis. These would include a children’s radio station provided by Capital, and a mixture of music and speech services.
Both proposals would use ten transmission sites. The Digital Radio Group says it would go on air in September 2001 with outdoor coverage of 79.5%, while MXR says it would begin in July 2001, and estimates it would have 85% outdoor coverage and 77% indoor coverage.
The licence has been advertised to run initially for a period of twelve years from commencement of broadcasting.
Radio Authority: 020 7430 2724
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