Three Applicants Line Up For Second London Digital Radio Licence

Three applicants emerged in the bid for the second London digital multiplex licence as the closing date passed yesterday. The Radio Authority announced that MXR London, Score Now and Switch Digital are the contenders in the race to hold the licence.

CE Digital, a consortium formed by Capital Radio and EMAP, won the first digital licence for the capital in September last year (see Capital And EMAP Win First London Digital Licence). Announcing the winner the Radio Authority confirmed its decision to advertise two further licences for the area.

Since then the three applicants have been strengthening their bids. MXR London was formed by Chrysalis, Border, DMG and Soul Media and plans to broadcast seven programme services from established brands including Heart, Galaxy, Century and Jazz FM, similar to its unsuccessful bid unveiled last year (see Chrysalis Announces London Digital Radio Bid).

Switch Digital, formed by the Wireless Group, Clear Channel International and Ginger Media is also submitting its second application, with a strengthened bid and an additional shareholder (see Carphone Warehouse Joins Switchdigital). The third contender, Score Now, was formed by GWR and Scottish Media (see GWR And Scottish Radio Unite In London Licence Bid), later to be joined by the Guardian Media Group (see Guardian Media Group Joins Bid For Digital Radio Licence) and proposes eight programme services.

Each applicant is also required to reserve digital capacity for the broadcasting of the BBC local radio service, GLR, on this multiplex. The three proposals will now be studied by the Radio Authority and a winner announced in Spring.

Radio Authority: 020 7430 2724