RNS Number:3477O
Capital Radio PLC
25 July 2000

                   CAPITAL COMMITS TO REGIONAL DIGITAL RADIO

Capital Radio plc, Britain's leading commercial radio group, today announced
it has strengthened its commitment to Digital Radio by joining forces with two
regional radio consortia, MXR and Switchdigital.

MXR is a consortium of Capital Radio plc, Chrysalis Radio, Jazz FM and the
Guardian Media Group, who between them, own all of the analogue regional
licences covered by the five digital areas (Century and Galaxy in the North
East, Century and Jazz in the North West, Galaxy in Yorkshire, Heart in the
West Midlands and Galaxy and Real Radio in the Severn Estuary/South Wales).

These leading radio players have each offered their existing analogue stations
exclusively to the MXR consortium, along with a range of additional digital-
only programming.  MXR will apply for the licences covering the Severn
Estuary/South Wales, West Midlands, North West, Yorkshire and the North East.
MXR's first submission will be for the North East of England, which closes on
October 17th.

In addition, following Capital Radio's recent acquisition of Beat 106, Capital
Radio today confirmed that Beat 106 will become part of The Wireless Group's
consortium, Switchdigital, that will bid for the Central Scotland Regional
Digital Multiplex Licence. This multiplex, to be awarded later this year, is
the largest to date advertised outside Greater London and will cover the main
populated centres of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling.

Sally Oldham, Strategy and Development Director of Capital Radio,
commented: "This further strengthens Capital's position as a key player in
digital. More importantly we have taken a step towards securing a place for
our new regional acquisitions, Century and The Beat, in a digital world."

To date, Capital Radio have launched a national radio station "Life" on
Digital One; digital radio services in London, Birmingham and Manchester as
part of their joint venture with Emap "CE Digital"; Capital also own the
multiplex licence in Cardiff/ Newport; And digital licences to broadcast Xfm,
in Glasgow, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, Wolverhampton, Liverpool,
Edinburgh, Leeds, Teeside and Bristol/ Bath, with others planned.


For more information, please contact:

Sally Oldham, Capital Radio plc, on 0207 766 6194
James Leviton, Finsbury, on 020 72513801

For information on Capital Radio stations, please contact Russell Millard on
020 77666234

Editor's Notes

1)Many of the Local Digital Radio multiplex licences covering the same areas
  as the regional licences listed above have already been awarded. Full
  details of all awards can be obtained from the Radio Authority.
2)Digital radio is a new transmission system that provides the listener with
  bundles (multiplexes) of audio services to new portable radios, in-car
  receivers and personal computers, with unprecendently clear reception. Being
  digital, it can also broadcast data services, which may or may not be
  related to the radio programming. As such, digital radio will provide an
  excellent opportunity to both enhance the quality of existing analogue radio
  services and introduce new services and formats across the UK.
3)The Radio Authority will make the licence award by reference to the criteria
  laid down in section 51 of the 1996 Broadcasting Act. This includes, inter
  alia, the diversity of appeal of the proposed services on the multiplexes,
  as well as the applicant being sufficiently resourced to deliver the
  proposals.
4)Capital Radio acquired Beat 106 on 5th July 2000.
Clean Air (LSE:CAP)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024 Click Here for more Clean Air Charts.
Clean Air (LSE:CAP)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024 Click Here for more Clean Air Charts.