MXR Wins Second Digital Licence

The MXR consortium has won the digital multiplex licence for the South Wales and Severn Estuary area. The group, whose shareholders include Chrysalis, Capital Radio, Guardian Media Group, Jazz FM, Soul Media and UBC Media, won the north east regional licence in December last year (see Radio Authority Dishes Out Digital Licences In North East).

MXR had competition from the Digital Radio Group (see Radio Authority Receives Two Applications For Severn Region Digital Licence), but the Radio Authority decided the nine programme services on offer from MXR, which include a dedicated children’s channel Fun, was the preferred choice. The consortium was formed last year to bid for regional digital licences (see New Digital Radio Consortium Targets Regions).

Richard Wheatly, CEO of Jazz FM, said: “This is tremendous news and builds on our earlier success in winning the north east digital licence. It is a further step in our plans to increase jazz listenership by extending it to a as many regional areas as possible.”

Radio Authority: 020 7430 2724