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{{Short description|Former media company}}
{{Infobox_Company
{{EngvarB|date=February 2018}}
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|company_name = 4 Digital Group
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
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|company_logo = [[File:4 Digital Group.svg|200px]]
{{Infobox company
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|company_type = [[consortium]]
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|name = 4 Digital Group
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|foundation = 2007
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|image = 4 Digital Group.svg
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|location = London, United Kingdom
|image_size = 200px
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|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
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|type = [[consortium]]
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|area_served = United Kingdom
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|foundation = 2007
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|industry = [[Radio]]
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|location = London, United Kingdom
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|slogan =
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|key_people = {{ubl|[[Nathalie Schwarz]], Chair|Andy Barnes – Director of Sales, Channel 4|[[Simon Cole]] – Chief executive, UBC Media|Charlie Cox – Company Director, [[Carphone Warehouse|The Carphone Warehouse]]|[[Dee Ford]] – Group managing director, Emap Radio|[[Scott Taunton]] – managing director, UTV Radio}}
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|products =
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|area_served = United Kingdom
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|revenue =
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|industry = Radio
⚫
|operating_income =
⚫
|slogan =
⚫
|num_employees =
⚫
|products =
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|homepage = [http://www.channel4.com/radio/4digital/ Official website]
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|revenue =
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|operating_income =
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|num_employees =
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|homepage ={{url|channel4.com/radio/4digital/}}
}}
}}
{{Channel Four Television Corporation|sidebar=yes}}
'''4 Digital Group''' was a media [[consortium]] in the United Kingdom. The group won the licence to operate the second national [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]] radio [[DAB ensemble|multiplex]], as advertised by [[Ofcom]] in December 2006.<ref>{{cite news|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 | work=The Guardian | location=London | first=Ben | last=Dowell | date=2007-07-06}}</ref><ref name="website">{{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 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070927104119/http://www.channel4radio.com/features/view.php?Id=2 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-09-27}}</ref> 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 (UK)|Freeview]]. Their strategy for this is the introduction of ten new national stations, including both speech and music services,<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> and advertising for the format. In October 2008 [[Channel 4]] announced that it was abandoning its plans for digital radio stations.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/oct/14/radio-channel4 The Guardian, News, Media, Radio, Tuesday October 14 2008 16.52 BST - 4 Digital radio partners in crisis talks]</ref>
'''4 Digital Group''' was a media [[consortium]] in the United Kingdom. In July 2007, the group won the licence to operate the second national [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]] radio [[DAB ensemble|multiplex]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://media.guardian.co.uk/radio/story/0,,2120230,00.html|title=Channel 4 wins radio multiplex bid – MediaGuardian.co.uk|access-date=6 July 2007 | work=The Guardian | location=London | first=Ben | last=Dowell | date=6 July 2007}}</ref><ref name="website">{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4radio.com/features/view.php?Id=2|title=4 DIGITAL GROUP WINS SECOND UK DAB MULTIPLEX LICENCE – Channel 4|access-date=6 July 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927104119/http://www.channel4radio.com/features/view.php?Id=2 |archive-date = 27 September 2007}}</ref> The consortium, led by [[Channel 4 Radio]], was a combination of existing commercial radio operators and brands new to radio. The group aimed to 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 (UK)|Freeview]]. Their strategy for this was the introduction of ten new national stations, including speech and music services,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doontodaywebservices.com/ |title=Ofcom receives two applications for the DAB National Radio multiplex licence – Ofcom |access-date=13 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614133855/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2007/03/nr_20070329a |archive-date=14 June 2007 }}</ref> and advertising for the format.


==New stations==
== Demise ==
In October 2008 [[Channel Four Television Corporation]] announced that it was abandoning its plans for digital radio stations.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/oct/14/radio-channel4 The Guardian, News, Media, Radio, Tuesday October 14 2008 16.52 BST – 4 Digital radio partners in crisis talks]</ref> Subsequently, the licence was returned to [[Ofcom]]. Therefore, all details below refer to purely what was planned, and was taken from promotional material of the time. None of it actually occurred.
⚫
The planned stations were:<ref>{{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 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070927030254/http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaigns/audio_visual/reports/audio/Channel_Four_radio_news_article_557_111824.jsp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-09-27}}</ref>


== Planned stations ==
⚫
'''[[E4 Radio]]''' aims to be a contemporary music and entertainment service targeted at 15 to 29-year-olds delivered in the style of ''[[E4 (channel)|E4 Television]]''. The proposed content is popular music, entertainment and comedy. The channel aims to experiment with new talent, ideas and music.
⚫
The planned stations were:<ref>{{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|access-date=13 April 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927030254/http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaigns/audio_visual/reports/audio/Channel_Four_radio_news_article_557_111824.jsp |archive-date = 27 September 2007}}</ref>


⚫
* '''E4 Radio''' was to be a contemporary music and entertainment service targeted at 15- to 29-year-olds and delivered in the style of the [[E4 (TV channel)|E4 television channel]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6276076.stm |work=BBC News| title=E4 Radio to be first new network | date=6 July 2007}}</ref> The proposed content was popular music, entertainment and comedy. The channel would 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.
* '''Channel 4 Radio''' was to be 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.


'''Talk Radio''' is a speech station proposed by [[UTV plc|UTV]] which would mix news and features with talkback programming. Content would be set by the day's news.
* '''Pure4''' was a proposed contemporary music station, which would feature speech content about their artists and bands. Programming would also include arts, film, books and exhibitions.


* '''Talk Radio''' was to be a speech station proposed by [[UTV plc|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.


⚫
* The plan for Bauer Radio's proposed station, '''Closer''', was 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 [[bskyb|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.<ref>[http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.2576 Sky News Radio complications], ''Radio Today'', 18 October 2007</ref> It is unknown whether the channel will still go forwards, or what will replace it.{{Citation needed|date=January 2008}}


⚫
* '''Sky News Radio''' was a proposed 24-hour news station. The proposal was a joint venture between [[Sky UK|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.<ref>[http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.2576 Sky News Radio complications], ''Radio Today'', 18 October 2007 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330105850/http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.2576 |date=30 March 2009 }}</ref>
⚫
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.


⚫
* Based on the London station, '''Sunrise Radio UK''' was a proposed station feating Asian culture, primarily music, including [[Bollywood]], [[Bhangra (music)|Bhangra]] and Asian folk music. Speech content would 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.


⚫
* Operated by CanWest MediaWorks, '''Original''' was a proposed contemporary and classic popular music station. The station hoped 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.


⚫
* '''Radio Disney''' aimed 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 would be a variety of suitable and popular music.
⚫
==Other Services==

⚫
=== Other services ===
As well as innovative new radio stations, 4 Digital Group planned 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.
As well as innovative new radio stations, 4 Digital Group planned 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:
Downloadable radio podcasts could include:


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


==Transmission==
===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.
4 Digital Group planned 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. There would be coverage of 94% of the motorway network in England, Scotland and Wales.


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


==Group companies==
===Group companies===


The group companies were:<ref name="c4site">{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/radio/4digital/group.html|title=4 Digital Group|accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref><ref>[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</ref>
The group companies were:<ref name="c4site">{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/radio/4digital/group.html|title=4 Digital Group|access-date=13 April 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070429025953/http://www.channel4.com/radio/4digital/group.html| archive-date= 29 April 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>[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</ref>


==== Initial shareholders ====
Shareholders:


* [[Channel 4]] Radio (55%)
*[[Channel 4 Radio]] (55%)
* [[Bauer Radio]] (10%)
* [[Bauer Radio]] (10%)
* [[UTV Radio]] (GB) Limited (10%)
* [[UTV Radio]] (GB) Limited (10%)
* [[British Sky Broadcasting|BSkyB]] (10%)
* [[Sky UK|BSkyB]] (10%)
* The [[Carphone Warehouse]] Group plc (10%)
*[[Carphone Warehouse]] Group plc (10%)
* [[UBC Media Group]] plc (5%)
* [[UBC Media Group]] plc (5%)


Station providers:
==== Station providers====
⚫
* Channel 4 Radio

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


Podcast providers:
==== Podcast providers ====

* Club Asia
* Club Asia
* [[Colourful]]
* [[Colourful Radio|Colourful]]
* [[The Financial Times]]
* [[The Financial Times]]
* [[Gaydar]]
* [[Gaydar]]
* [[NME]]
* [[NME]]
* [[Penguin Books|Penguin]]
* [[Penguin Books|Penguin]]
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* [[IMG (company)|IMG]]
* [[IMG (company)|IMG]]


Strategic partners:
==== Strategic partners ====

* [[BBC]]
* [[BBC]]
* [[Universal Music Group]]
* [[Universal Music Group]]
* [[The Cloud]]
* [[The Cloud (company)|The Cloud]]
* [[iriver]]
* [[iriver]]
* ITIS Holdings
* ITIS Holdings
* [[British Telecom|BT]] Movio
* [[British Telecom|BT]] Movio

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==See also==
⚫
* [[Channel 4]]
⚫
* [[Digital radio in the United Kingdom]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{Channel Four Television Corporation}}
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==See also==
⚫
{{Media in the United Kingdom|radio}}
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*[[Channel 4]]
⚫
*[[Digital radio in the United Kingdom]]

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{{Navbox:Digital radio in the United Kingdom}}


[[Category:Channel 4 Radio]]
[[Category:Channel 4 Radio]]
[[Category:Media companies based in London]]
[[Category:Defunct mass media companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Mass media companies based in London]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 2007]]
[[Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 2008]]
[[Category:British companies established in 2007]]
[[Category:British companies disestablished in 2007]]

Latest revision as of 17:18, 16 January 2024

4 Digital Group
Company typeconsortium
IndustryRadio
Founded2007
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
Websitechannel4.com/radio/4digital/
Channel 4
Channel 4 Logo
Television channels
Online services
Other

4 Digital Group was a media consortium in the United Kingdom. In July 2007, the group won the licence to operate the second national DAB radio multiplex.[1][2] The consortium, led by Channel 4 Radio, was a combination of existing commercial radio operators and brands new to radio. The group aimed to 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 was the introduction of ten new national stations, including speech and music services,[3] and advertising for the format.

Demise[edit]

In October 2008 Channel Four Television Corporation announced that it was abandoning its plans for digital radio stations.[4] Subsequently, the licence was returned to Ofcom. Therefore, all details below refer to purely what was planned, and was taken from promotional material of the time. None of it actually occurred.

Planned stations[edit]

The planned stations were:[5]

  • E4 Radio was to be a contemporary music and entertainment service targeted at 15- to 29-year-olds and delivered in the style of the E4 television channel.[6] The proposed content was popular music, entertainment and comedy. The channel would experiment with new talent, ideas and music.
  • Channel 4 Radio was to be 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 was a proposed contemporary music station, which would feature speech content about their artists and bands. Programming would also include arts, film, books and exhibitions.
  • Talk Radio was to be 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, was 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.[7]
  • Based on the London station, Sunrise Radio UK was a proposed station feating Asian culture, primarily music, including Bollywood, Bhangra and Asian folk music. Speech content would focus on news and features tailored to the two million British people with Asian backgrounds.
  • Operated by CanWest MediaWorks, Original was a proposed contemporary and classic popular music station. The station hoped to employ well-known presenters and produce specialist evening music shows.
  • Radio Disney aimed 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 would be a variety of suitable and popular music.

Other services[edit]

As well as innovative new radio stations, 4 Digital Group planned 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 could include:

  • 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[edit]

4 Digital Group planned 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. There would be coverage of 94% of the motorway network in England, Scotland and Wales.

Marketing[edit]

4 Digital Group planned 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 to support the launch of the individual new radio stations.

Group companies[edit]

The group companies were:[8][9]

Initial shareholders[edit]

Station providers[edit]

Podcast providers[edit]

Strategic partners[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Dowell, Ben (6 July 2007). "Channel 4 wins radio multiplex bid – MediaGuardian.co.uk". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 July 2007.
  2. ^ "4 DIGITAL GROUP WINS SECOND UK DAB MULTIPLEX LICENCE – Channel 4". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 6 July 2007.
  3. ^ "Ofcom receives two applications for the DAB National Radio multiplex licence – Ofcom". Archived from the original on 14 June 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2007.
  4. ^ The Guardian, News, Media, Radio, Tuesday October 14 2008 16.52 BST – 4 Digital radio partners in crisis talks
  5. ^ "Channel 4 leading new digital radio bid". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2007.
  6. ^ "E4 Radio to be first new network". BBC News. 6 July 2007.
  7. ^ Sky News Radio complications, Radio Today, 18 October 2007 Archived 30 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "4 Digital Group". Archived from the original on 29 April 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2007.
  9. ^ Channel 4, NGW bid for DAB multiplex, Digital Spy, 29 March 2007
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