CAP Clean Air

RNS Number:1055S
Radio Authority
6 October 2000



140/00                                             6 October 2000

                     RADIO AUTHORITY AWARDS LOCAL DIGITAL

                    MULTIPLEX LICENCE FOR CENTRAL SCOTLAND


The Radio Authority announced today (6 October) that it has decided, after
considering the proposals submitted for the local digital multiplex service
licence for the Central Scotland region, to award the licence to the sole
applicant:


        SWITCHDIGITAL (SCOTLAND) LTD. - The Wireless Group plc, 18 Hatfields,
        London SE1 8DJ (contact: Kelvin MacKenzie, 020 7959 7800).


The licence is designed potentially to deliver digital radio programming and
data services to an area with an adult (aged 15+) population of up to around
2.75 million.


The proposed shareholding structure of Switchdigital (Scotland) Ltd. is:


     The Wireless Group plc               55%

     Clear Channel International Ltd.     20%

     Capital Radio plc                    20%

     The Carphone Warehouse plc           5%


Switchdigital (Scotland) is proposing to broadcast a total of nine programme
services in the Central Scotland region, each provided initially on a
round-the-clock basis:

Classic soul          The Rhythm

                      (provider: Digital Programme Services Ltd.)
                     
Chart hits and club   Ministry of Sound (provider: Ministry of Sound, with     
dance                 Clear Channel International Ltd.)

Classic hits          WSCO (provider: Clear Channel International Ltd.)

Classic rock and      Big-Scotland (provider: The Wireless Group plc)
sport
                     
Easy listening        The Lounge (provider: The Wireless Group plc)
                     
Jazz, soul and blues  Jazz FM (provider: Jazz FM plc)
                     
Adult contemporary    Scot FM (provider: Central Scotland Radio Ltd.)
and speech
                     
New rock and dance    Beat 106 (provider: Beat 106 Ltd.)
                     

                                      more follows...

                                     -2-


In addition to these commercial services, the BBC Gaelic radio service for
Scotland, Radio Nan Gaidheal, will be broadcast using the digital capacity
reserved for it.


Switchdigital (Scotland) Ltd. proposes to commence its service in May 2001,
using three transmission sites, at Kirk o'Shotts, Craigkelly and Gleniffer
Braes, which it estimates will provide 'outdoor coverage' of around 83% of the
adult population of the Central Scotland 'primary protected area' (PPA). It
proposes to extend coverage in March 2003 by the addition of transmissions
from Darvel and Earls Hill, increasing 'outdoor coverage' to an estimated 88%
of the PPA population.


The licence will run initially for a period of twelve years from the
commencement of broadcasting.


The Authority will shortly be publishing its assessment of Switchdigital
(Scotland)'s application for the Central Scotland licence.



                                     ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS


 1. The services will be transmitted on the VHF band III frequency block 11D
    (centre-frequency 222.064 MHz).


        2.     The application for the licence was considered according to
        factors specified in section 51 of the Broadcasting Act 1996, which
        are: the extent of coverage proposed, within the permitted maximum;
        the timetable by which this will be achieved; the ability of the
        applicant to establish the proposed service and maintain it throughout
        the licence period; the extent to which the proposed programme
        services will cater for the tastes and interests of listeners in the
        area; the broadening of local digital radio choice; local support for
        the applicant's proposals; and whether the applicant has been fair in
        contracting with the prospective providers of programme and data
        services on the multiplex.


        3.     Digital radio is a new transmission system which provides the
        listener with bundles (called multiplexes) of audio services to new
        portable and vehicle receivers, and personal computers, with
        unprecedentedly clear reception. Being digital, it can also broadcast
        data services which may or may not be related to the radio programmes;
        e.g. traffic information, electronic publishing, and internet-type
        information.


                                                               more follows...

                                     -3-


        4.     The Authority has already awarded a national (i.e. covering
        Great Britain) digital radio multiplex licence, to Digital One Ltd.,
        and local multiplex licences for Glasgow and Edinburgh, both to SCORE
        Digital Ltd., whose services will also be available in this region.


        5.     The Radio Authority is responsible for licensing and regulating
        Independent Radio in accordance with the statutory requirements of the
        Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996. It plans frequencies, awards
        licences, regulates programming and advertising, and plays an active
        role in the discussion and formulation of policies which affect the
        Independent Radio industry and its listeners.




Contact:      For press enquiries only:


        Julie McCatty, Chief Press Officer: 020 7887 4292

        Kerry Curtis, Press & Information Officer: 020 7887 4290

        Out of hours: 0370 375283


General enquiries:


        Press and Information Office: 020 7887 4294 or 020 7405 7058

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