Partnership with Bauer and UTV to bid for second DAB licence

DAB Multiplex Digital Radio

This follows the advertisement of the D2 licence by Ofcom on Tuesday 1 July, and Ofcom's statement that the new licence could offer capacity for around ten new national radio stations.

The consortium combines two of the UK's leading commercial radio broadcasters with ourselves. Each of the participants in the consortium is also a long-standing operator of DAB digital radio multiplexes in the UK.

UTV Media (GB) owns 13 regional radio stations and is the company behind talkSPORT, the world's biggest sports radio station, which has just finished bringing listeners live commentary of every match from Brazil as an official broadcaster of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Bauer Media UK reaches over 22 million UK consumers every week through a portfolio of world-class, multi-platform media and entertainment brands. Bauer Radio reaches over 16 million listeners every week (a quarter of all adults in the UK) with 43 of the most influential radio brands across the country, including Magic FM, KISS FM and Absolute Radio.

The consortium is inviting third parties to express an interest in operating new national radio stations as part of its licence application. We are the contact point for interested parties and have issued an advertisement inviting expressions of interest. The ad is available on our website at www.arqiva.com/d2 from today Tuesday 15th of July.

Our Managing Director of Terrestrial Broadcast, Steve Holebrook said:

Radio's future is undoubtedly digital and we are delighted to be working with Bauer and UTV to bid for the second national DAB multiplex licence which will help to realise that digital future. Our consortium has the necessary credentials to deliver this new network, and if our bid is successful we expect the result to be a significant broadening of choice for radio listeners.

Paul Keenan, Chief Executive, Bauer Media UK said:

A new national DAB licence presents an exciting opportunity for listeners to discover new radio services and for us and the commercial radio industry to further extend reach and service. D2 will further accelerate digital growth in the UK .

Scott Taunton, Managing Director of UTV Media (GB) said:

Ofcom's advertisement of a new national DAB licence represents a vote of confidence for radio's continuing relevance and strength as a broadcast medium. In Arqiva and Bauer we believe we have identified the right partners for UTV to formulate a bid for this licence and we look forward to developing our plans over the coming months.

Tags

Radio

digital radio

Multiplex

LINK:	http://www.arqiva.com/news/press-releases/partnership-with-bauer-and-u...
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