Second National Digital Radio Multiplex Shortly Up For Grabs
Ofcom has said that the UK’s second national digital radio multiplex will be up for grabs from next month, with the potential for up to 10 new national digital radio stations by the start of 2008.
Applicants will have three months from the licence being advertised in November in which to lodge their bids, by some time in February next year. The licence should be awarded by next summer.
GCap Media, which holds the majority share (63%) in the UK’s only national digital network, Digital One, had previously threatened Ofcom with legal action over the creation of a second national DAB multiplex, with chief executive Ralph Bernard branding the watchdog’s decision as unfair and illegal (see Ofcom Announces New Spectrum Plans).
However, the radio giant backed down from its threat to sue the media regulator (see GCap Abandons Legal Action Over Second Multiplex) after the industry body confirmed that the new multiplex operator will only be allowed to broadcast stations which do not directly complete with those operating through Digital One. The regulator also stated that GCap would be able to bid for the second national licence.
Earlier in the year, Channel 4 announced its intention to lead a consortium to bid for the new multiplex. It emerged that the broadcaster has held discussions with BSkyB about a potential partnership to bid for the multiplex (see Channel 4 Radio In Talks To Join RAB).
Channel 4 launched its online radio station in June, with the company taking advantage of the absence of regulation and challenging traditional radio operators with the format (see C4 Makes History With Radio Launch).
Channel4radio.com also signed a deal with Universal Music giving the record company strategic partner status in C4’s application for the new national DAB multiplex (see Channel 4 Radio In Talks To Join RAB).
Ofcom is also advertising a series of 12 local multiplex licences, in an attempt to stamp out the digital radio divide between urban and rural areas, and to make sure listeners across the whole country can tune in to digital stations.
Currently around 14% of the UK population, mainly in rural areas, have no access to DAB/digital radio services. City dwellers however can typically tune in to around 30 stations.
The new local digital multiplexes will allow for up to 74 existing local FM and AM analogue services, all BBC local and regional stations and other services to move to DAB. Over the course of next year, more licences will come up for grabs, filling the gaps in areas of the country that have no, or poor, digital radio reception.
Ofcom: 020 7981 3040 www.ofcom.org.uk GCap Media: www.gcapmedia.com Channel Four: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com