4 Digital Group
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| 4 Digital Group | |
 |
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| Type | consortium |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters | 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; Phil Riley - Chief Executive, Chrysalis Radio |
| Area served | United Kingdom |
| Industry | Radio |
| Website | [1] |
4 Digital Group is a consortium that has bid for the second national DAB multiplex, advertised by Ofcom in December 2006. The consortium, led by Channel 4 Radio, is a combination of the existing commercial radio operators and brands new to radio.
Contents |
[edit] Company strategy
4 Digital Group wants to put radio at the heart of the digital revolution, the consortium aims to do for digital radio what Freeview has done for digital television - boost the take-up. 10 new national services - in both speech and music.
[edit] Proposed New Stations
[edit] E4 Radio
E4 Radio will be a contemporary music and entertainment service targeted at 15 to 29-year-olds delivered in E4's style with the latest music, entertainment and comedy, and will encourage a new generation of music and comedy talent.
Building on the popularity of the E4 television channel, E4 Radio will have new talent, ideas and sounds and engage actively with listeners.
[edit] Channel 4 Radio
Channel 4 Radio will be a contemporary speech station with public service values infusing a blend of lively debate and entertainment. It will be driven by intelligent, informed and often provocative opinion and conversation.
News and current affairs will be at the heart of Channel 4 Radio. It will primarily target 30 to 54-year-olds and will offer a mix of programming from current affairs and news to comedy, drama, documentary and lifestyle, all delivered with intelligence, irreverence and humour.
[edit] Pure4
Pure4 will be a knowledgeable radio station for music lovers, and from the music and culture. A completely distinctive music mix not heard anywhere else on commercial radio.
As well as playing music, it will explore the stories, set the context and influences. The audience likes contemporary music and new music in all genres. Pure4 is a place where the audience can find out about the arts, film, books and exhibitions - the music has to offer with modern contemporary culture.
[edit] Talk Radio
Talk Radio will mix intelligent, entertaining and opinionated presentation with lively debate and phone-ins. Operated by UTV, it will break the mould of national news and current affairs radio by having a more interactive and compelling talkback element. Talk Radio's free-flowing agenda will be dictated by the unfolding issues of the day. From politics to the police, from immigration to Iran, if it's in the news Talk Radio will be talking about it.
[edit] Closer
Emap's proposed station, Closer, will be a music station targeting women aged 30+ with a broad range of contemporary and classic 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.
[edit] Sky News Radio
Sky News Radio, a joint venture between Sky and Chrysalis Radio, will be a 24-hour rolling news service, providing up-to-the minute news and analysis from Britain and around the world. It will bring to national radio the reputation for quality and speed that viewers and listeners have come to expect from Sky's pioneering and award-winning 24-hour television news service, and from Chrysalis Radio's Sony award winning radio news operation which feeds its London stations LBC 97.3FM and LBC News 1152AM.
[edit] Sunrise Radio UK
Based on the successful London station, Sunrise Radio UK will be a personality-led, music-dominated station serving Britain's growing appetite for Asian music and Asian culture. There will be plenty of audience interaction and a range of music, from Bollywood contemporary and classic hits to Bhangra and Asian folk music. It will also focus on news and international issues of most interest to the two million British people with Asian backgrounds.
[edit] Virgin Radio Viva
Virgin Radio Viva is a new digital station by Virgin Radio for fun, young and fearless females aged 15-29. Aimed at girls who like to party and listen to music in style, the station will play the best of pop and the latest hits. With an engaging mix of music and salient speech the station will capture their spirit and become an integral part of their lives.
[edit] Original
Operated by CanWest MediaWorks, Original will be a station for adults who want something more than just Top 20 hits. It will mix the best of today's music with great tracks from the past reflecting today's tastes. As its name suggests, Original will be far removed from traditional commercial radio output with well-known presenters and specialist evening music shows.
[edit] Radio Disney
Radio Disney will be the first national UK radio station made just for kids. Aimed at 8 to 12-year-olds, the core of the service will be a variety of suitable and popular music. A range of features will also build a sense of ownership and community, giving kids a platform to express themselves.
[edit] Other Services
[edit] Podcasts
As well as innovative new radio stations, 4 Digital Group will 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)
[edit] Transmission
4 Digital Group will build and operate a state of the art transmission network that will be 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.
[edit] Marketing
4 Digital Group will 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.
[edit] Group companies
Shareholders:
- Channel 4 Radio
- EMAP Digital Radio Limited
- UTV Radio (GB) Limited
- BSkyB / Chrysalis
- The Carphone Warehouse Group plc
- UBC Media Group plc
Station providers:
- Channel 4 Radio
- BSkyB / Chrysalis Radio
- Emap Radio
- UTV Radio
- CanWest MediaWorks
- The Walt Disney Company
- SMG
- Sunrise Radio
Podcast providers:
- Club Asia
- Colourful
- The Financial Times
- Gaydar
- NME
- Penguin
- Media Trust
- The Princes Trust
- IMG
Strategic partners:
