UCB proposed for new Gloucestshire DAB system

Ofcom has received two applications for the new Gloucestershire local digital radio multiplex licence.

The applicants are MuxCo Gloucestershire Limited (ownership UKRD Group Ltd 25% Murfin Media Ltd 25% Town & Country Broadcasting Ltd 25%MuxCo Ltd 25%) and Now Digital Limited (owned by GCap Media plc.)

MuxCo Gloucestershire Limited is proposing to provide ten local digital sound programme services, in addition to BBC Radio Gloucestershire, including UCB UK. Now Digital Limited is proposing to provide eleven local digital sound programme services, in addition to BBC Radio Gloucestershire, again including UCB UK.

MuxCo Gloucestershire Limited proposes to commence its service with all ten proposed local digital sound programme services and BBC Radio Gloucestershire in October 2008, using a network of four transmitters which it estimates will provide 'outdoor' coverage of 79% of the adult (aged 15+) population of the licensed area.

Now Digital Limited proposes to commence its service with all eleven local digital sound programme services by December 2008, using a network of three transmitters which it estimates will provide 'outdoor' coverage of 75.4% of the adult (aged 15+) population of the licensed area.

Ofcom is seeking views on these applications by 3 January 2008. Any written representations on the applications can either be emailed to commercialradio@ofcom.org.uk or posted to Neil Stock, Head of Radio, Ofcom, Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA. Please mark the correspondence 'Gloucestershire licence'.

• Ofcom Media Release