New national radio announced
The second national commercial DAB (digital radio) multiplex has attracted two bids to Ofcom. One is backed by the Channel 4 Corporation, the other by National Grid Wireless.
Channel 4 radio
Both bids have slots for the proposed Channel 4 radio services, which are proposed to be Channel 4 Radio (a copy of BBC Radio 4), Pure4 (a contemporary arts station in the mode of BBC Radio 3) and E4 Radio (for 15 to 29-year olds). NGW has proposed two slots, so one of these services will not air if NGW wins.Rolling news
Channel 4s bid includes 24-hour Sky News Radio as a joint venture with Chrysalis, the NGW news provider has not been revealed.Asian
C4 will make the Sunrise Radio UK into a national service, the NGW Asian service is not known, and their bid also moves the BBC Asian Network to the new multiplex, to free the BBC multiplex to improve the sound quality.Childrens radio
NGWs proposal includes a part-time FUN Radio for children, Channel 4s bid includes full-time Radio Disney.Music
Just in case there isnt enough archive music radio stations aviliable on the existing national commercial DAB multiplexes, C4 will add a station called Original (by CanWest MediaWorks), NGW will bring back once-axed Radio Luxembourg, an Adult/Album station and Love songs station!Talk
C4 will provide UTVs Talk Radiom,Others
C4s other stations will be Emaps Closer (women aged 30 up) and Virgin Radio Viva to fill in the gap (listeners to be up to age 30). The NGW bid also includes 50+, Premier Christian Radio, Colourful and Radio Play which may (or may not) be a premium-rate quiz-show radio channel.Help with Which system?
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