Radio Authority Dishes Out Digital Licences In North East

The Radio Authority has announced the award of two digital licences for the North Eastern Area. It has been confirmed that sole applicant Emap Digital Radio has been awarded the licence for Humberside (see Emap Bags Humberside Digital Licence), while the MXR consortium has won the North East region licence, with a proposal including the first UK dedicated children’s radio station.

MXR won the licence against competition from the Digital Radio Group and North East Digital Radio Ltd (see Three Applications Received For North East Digital Radio Licence). It will broadcast nine services, including the children’s station, Fun, from Spring next year.

Listener figures for digital radio are still not widely known. This year prices for receivers including in-car and PC add-ons have been dropped below the £300 mark in order to make them a more attractive option for consumers. In the run-up to Christmas a partnership between the digital radio industry and high street retailer Dixons has been promoting the equipment in stores as a Christmas present idea.

Emap Digital: 020 7868 7511 Digital One: 020 7518 2620 MXR (Chrysalis): 020 7221 2213 Radio Authority: 020 7430 2724

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