Radio Authority Awards Aberdeen Digital Licence, Receives One Application For Southend

The Radio Authority received just one application for the local digital multiplex licence for the Southend and Chelmsford area in time for its deadline of 3 April. The applicant for the licence, which covers an area with a potential audience of up to 1.2m adults aged 15 and over in Southend, Chelmsford and surrounding parts of Essex, was the wholly-owned subsidiary of GWR, Now Digital.

Now Digital proposed eight programme services, each provided on a round-the-clock basis, commencing in January 2002. Initially the licence will run for a period of 12 years from commencement of broadcasting.

The Authority has also announced the award of the local digital multiplex licence for Aberdeen. Of the two applicants, The Wireless Group’s Switchdigital Scotland was chosen to provide a service for a potential 325,000 adults over 15 years of age.

Switchdigital Scotland, in which Clear Channel International, Capital Radio and The Carphone Warehouse also have stakes, proposed to broadcast seven commercial programme services on a round-the-clock basis, and one, Waves Radio from 0600 to midnight initially. Commencement of services is planned for December this year. The licence will again run initially for 12 years from transmission beginning.

Now Digital (c/o GWR Group): 01603 630621 Radio Authority: 020 7887 4294 Switch Digital Scotland (c/o The Wireless Group): 020 7959 7869

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