Now Digital Wins Third Local Digital Radio Multiplex Licence

The licence to operate the Coventry digital radio multiplex has gone to the sole bidder, Now Digital. Broadcasting will begin in January 2001 to a potential audience of over 600,000 people living in and around the city.

The broadcasters are to launch nine programme services, of which five are exclusive to digital. Current services which will become available on digital as well include:

Mercia FM, currently the leading popular market service in the area, Classic Gold 1359 Kix 96, a local service playing chart and dance music with local news and information, and BBC Coventry and Warwickshire

The digital-only services will consist of:

The Storm, which will play 80s and early 90s rock music such as Nirvana, Catatonia and Queen, with sports, news and lifestyle, Urban, which will have speech about what is happening in Coventry along with the “current sound” of the city. The Rhythm, which will play classic and new soul tracks Flix: lifestyle and emotion led programming, with vocal and instrumental music from films and shows, and Sunrise Radio for Asian programming aimed at a wide age range.

Now Digital is wholly owned by GWR group. GWR digital services managing director Russell Stuart said, “The Coventry licence is an important part of our successful strategy of bidding for digital licences which reflect our existing areas and increase listening choice.”

Last month Now Digital announced that it had won the licence for nearby multiplex Bath and Bristol (see Now Digital Gains Second Digital Multiplex Licence). The Coventry licence brings the total won by the group to three.

GWR group: 020 7284 3000