National Grid Wireless Bids On Multiplex
National Grid Wireless has submitted its bid for the UK’s second national digital radio multiplex. It is offering a service of 12 stations and hopes to be on air by 29th February 2008 if successful.
It has partnered with the BBC and Digital One, and has allocated two stations to fellow bidders Channel 4 Radio services. Channel 4 submitted its own bid this afternoon with an offer of 10 stations under the consortium name 4 Digital Group (see 4 Digital Group Reveals Digital Multiplex Bid).
Stations offered include:
- Radio Luxembourg – owned by CLT/UFA
- Premier Christian Radio – owned by London Christian Radio Ltd
- BBC Asian Network – owned by BBC
- 4Radio 1 – owned by Channel 4
- 4Radio 2 – owned by Channel 4
- Colourful – owned by Colourful Media Ltd
- Radio Play (6 hours per day) – owned by Something Else Sounds Directions Ltd
- FUN Radio (13 hours per day) – owned by Children’s Radio UK Ltd
- Adult Album radio station
- 50+ radio station
- Rolling news radio station
- Asian radio station
- Love Songs radio station
However, according to a report on MediaGuardian.co.uk, Channel 4 is so far refusing to guarantee that it will make available its radio services named in the National Grid Wireless bid.
A total of £14 million has been promised by the National Grid as part of a cross-industry marketing partnership with the BBC and Digital One, with the aim to drive the uptake of DAB services, including talking to car manufacturers and mobile retailers.
The first year will see £3 million pledged with £1 million offered per year of the licence period thereafter.
Ofcom are due to make a decision on the multiplex in July 2007.
National Grid Wireless: www.uk.nationalgridwireless.com/