4 Digital Group

Infobox_Company
company_name = 4 Digital Group
company_
company_type = consortium
foundation = 2007
location = London, United Kingdom
key_people = Nathalie Schwarz, Chair; Andy Barnes - Director of Sales, Channel 4; Simon Cole - Chief Executive, UBC Media; Charlie Cox (Carphone Warehouse) - Company Director, The Carphone Warehouse; Dee Ford - Group Managing Director, Emap Radio; Scott Taunton - Managing Director, UTV Radio
area_served = United Kingdom
industry = Radio
slogan =
products =
revenue =
operating_income =
num_employees =
homepage = [http://www.channel4.com/radio/4digital/]

4 Digital Group was a media consortium in the United Kingdom. The group won the licence to operate the second national DAB radio multiplex, as advertised by Ofcom in December 2006. [cite web|url=http://media.guardian.co.uk/radio/story/0,,2120230,00.html|title=Channel 4 wins radio multiplex bid - MediaGuardian.co.uk|accessdate=2007-07-06] cite web|url=http://www.channel4radio.com/features/view.php?Id=2|title=4 DIGITAL GROUP WINS SECOND UK DAB MULTIPLEX LICENCE - Channel 4|accessdate=2007-07-06] The consortium, led by Channel 4 Radio, is a combination of the existing commercial radio operators and brands new to radio. The group said that they wish boost the up-take of digital radio in the United Kingdom in a similar manner to the growth of digital television since the introduction of Freeview. Their strategy for this is the introduction of ten new national stations, including both speech and music services, [cite web|url=http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2007/03/nr_20070329a|title=Ofcom receives two applications for the DAB National Radio multiplex licence - Ofcom|accessdate=2007-04-13] [cite web|url=http://business.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=483092007|title=Scotsman.com Business - Latest News - Channel 4 bids for digital radio licence|accessdate=2007-04-13] and advertising for the format. In October 2008 Channel 4 announced that it was abandoning its plans for digital radio stations.

New stations

The new stations are: [cite web|url=http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaigns/audio_visual/reports/audio/Channel_Four_radio_news_article_557_111824.jsp|title=Channel 4 leading new digital radio bid|accessdate=2007-04-13]

E4 Radio aims to be a contemporary music and entertainment service targeted at 15 to 29-year-olds delivered in the style of "E4 Television". The proposed content is popular music, entertainment and comedy. The channel aims to experiment with new talent, ideas and music.

Channel 4 Radio is a proposed speech station, including debate, opinion, comedy and drama programming, with a considerable news and current affairs output. The target audience would be 30 to 54-year-olds.

Pure4 is a proposed contemporary music station, which would feature speech content about their artists and bands. Programming will also include arts, film, books and exhibitions.

Talk Radio is a speech station proposed by UTV which would mix news and features with talkback programming. Content would be set by the day's news.

The plan for Bauer Radio's proposed station, Closer, is for a music station targeting women aged 30+ with a broad range of contemporary and classic popular hits and topical chat on issues such as health, diet, wellbeing, fashion and relationships, using a mix of both celebrity and listener real-life experiences.

Sky News Radio was a proposed 24-hour news station. The proposal was a joint venture between Sky, which runs a television news channel, and Chrysalis Radio, which owned LBC 97.3 FM and LBC News 1152 AM in London. However LBC's new owners Global Radio pulled out of the deal. [ [http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.2576 Sky News Radio complications] , "Radio Today", 18 October 2007] It is unknown whether the channel will still go forwards, or what will replace it.Fact|date=January 2008

Based on the London station, Sunrise Radio UK is a proposed station feating Asian culture, primarily music, including Bollywood, Bhangra and Asian folk music. Speech content will focus on news and features tailored to the two million British people with Asian backgrounds.

Operated by CanWest MediaWorks, Original is a proposed contemporary and classic popular music station. The station hopes to employ well-known presenters and produce specialist evening music shows.

Radio Disney aims to be the first national UK radio station broadcasting children's programmes full time. Aimed at 8 to 12-year-olds, the core of the service will be a variety of suitable and popular music.

Other Services

As well as innovative new radio stations, 4 Digital Group plan to introduce a national Podcast Service, providing an opportunity for niche services catering for a diversity of passions, interests and communities to reach audiences throughout the UK.

Downloadable radio podcasts range from:

* Gaydar (gay and lesbian community)
* Club Asia (Asian dance music)
* NME (new music)
* IMG (sport)
* Penguin (audio books)
* The Financial Times (business)
* The Prince's Trust (youth new music and issues)
* Media Trust (social action)
* Colourful (multi-cultural speech)

Transmission

4 Digital Group plans to build and operate a transmission network capable of reaching nearly 88% of the adult population on the move (outdoor), nearly 80.5% in home (robust indoor), and 45% using handheld receivers and DAB coverage for 94% of the motorway network in England, Scotland and Wales.

Marketing

4 Digital Group plans to commit £4.5 million to general marketing of digital radio in the first three years of the licence period, together with more than £25 million lue to support the launch of the individual new radio stations.

Group companies

The group companies were:cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/radio/4digital/group.html|title=4 Digital Group|accessdate=2007-04-13] [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/radio/a44595/channel-4-ngw-bid-for-dab-multiplex.html Channel 4, NGW bid for DAB multiplex] , "Digital Spy", 29 March 2007]

Shareholders:

* Channel 4 Radio (55%)
* Bauer Radio (10%)
* UTV Radio (GB) Limited (10%)
* BSkyB (10%)
* The Carphone Warehouse Group plc (10%)
* UBC Media Group plc (5%)

Station providers:

* Channel 4 Radio
* BSkyB
* Bauer Radio
* UTV Radio
* CanWest MediaWorks
* The Walt Disney Company
* Sunrise Radio

Podcast providers:

* Club Asia
* Colourful
* The Financial Times
* Gaydar
* NME
* Penguin
* Media Trust
* The Princes Trust
* IMG

Strategic partners:

* BBC
* Universal Music Group
* The Cloud
* iriver
* ITIS Holdings
* BT Movio

References

ee also

*Channel 4
*Digital radio in the United Kingdom