C4 WINS IN RADIO REVAMP

The award of the Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) licence by media watchdog Ofcom is expected to herald a massive shake-up.

Channel 4 is the majority share-holder in 4 Digital Group, whose six members include Carphone Warehouse, UTV and UBC Media.

Ten new services are planned, including talk channel C4 Radio, youth-based service E4 Radio and arts channel Pure 4. Others include Radio Disney, an Asian channel and UTV’s sports channel, Talk Radio.

Listeners will need a DAB radio to tune in, although they will also be able to listen in on the internet or on the new generation of mobile phones.

Andy Duncan, Channel 4 chief executive, said: “It gives us a platform to extend our innovative and highly diverse public service contribution into radio, challenging the BBC’s dominance of the medium, opening up new revenue streams to support our broader public service role.”

The losing bidder was Australian-owned National Grid Wireless.