GWR Bolsters Digital Offering With New Multiplex Licence
GWR has secured the local digital multiplex licence for Reading and Basingstoke and plans to launch six programme services in the area, in addition to the existing stations.
The Radio Authority awarded the 12-year licence to GWR’s wholly owned subsidiary, Now Digital, which proposes to start broadcasting 2-Ten FM, Classic Gold, The Storm, Saga FM and Kiss from June 2004.
The new licence will further boost GWR’s digital portfolio after the recent award of the Berkshire and North Hampshire multiplex. The group now owns, or operates multiplexes serving Bristol and Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire, London and Essex.
Through Now Digital, GWR also holds multiplex licences serving Wolverhampton and the Black Country, Norfolk, Coventry and Warwickshire, Dorset, Devon and Peterborough.
Commenting on the new licence, Simon Ward, GWR’s director of digital development, said: “The award of the Berkshire and North Hampshire is a significant development for GWR Group and our local multiplex company, Now Digital. It fills a gap in our network which enables us to offer solutions to radio groups to broadcast the length of the M4 corridor, and beyond.
He added: “Ensuring that listeners can travel across this important region of the UK and listen throughout to some of their favourite digital only radio services, will strengthen the radio industry which has invested significant sums in developing new radio services.”
The Radio Authority recently received thirteen applications for the new local FM analogue licence for Glasgow, which is the last to be awarded by the regulator before it hands over control to Ofcom later this year (see Radio’s Big Guns Line Up For Glasgow FM Licence).
GWR Group: 020 7284 3000 www.gwrgroup.com Radio Authority: 020 7430 2724 www.radioauthority.org.uk
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