Radio Multiplex Licence Variation Request Form

Transcription

1 Radio Multiplex Licence Variation Request Form This form should be used for any request to vary a local or national radio multiplex licence, e.g: replacing one programme or data service with another adding a programme or data service removing a programme or data service changing the Format description of a programme service changing a programme service from stereo to mono changing a programme service's bit-rate Please complete all relevant parts of this form. You should submit one form per multiplex licence, but you should complete as many versions of Part 3 of this form as required (one per change). Before completing this form, applicants are strongly advised to read our published guidance on radio multiplex licence variations, which can be found at: Part 1 Details of multiplex licence Radio multiplex licence: Licensee: Contact name: DM01 National Commercial Digital One Glyn Jones Date of request: 15 January

2 Part 2 Summary of multiplex line-up before and after proposed change(s) Existing line-up of programme services Service name and short-form description Bit-rate (kbps)/ Coding (H or F) Stereo/ Mono Proposed line-up of programme services Service name and Bit-rate Stereo/ short-form (kbps)/ Mono description Coding (H or F) Absolute Radio 80F M Absolute Radio 80F M Absolute 80s 80F M Absolute 80s 80F M BFBS 80F M BFBS 80F M Capital XTRA 112F JS Capital XTRA 112F JS Classic FM 128F JS Classic FM 128F JS KISS 80F M KISS 80F M LBC 64H M LBC 64H M Magic UK 80F M Magic UK 80F M Planet Rock 80F M Planet Rock 80F M Premier Christian 64H M Premier Christian 64H M Smooth Extra 80F M Smooth Extra 80F M talksport 64H M talksport 64H M UCB UK Christian 64H M UCB UK Christian 64H M INRIX UK TPEG 16 Data INRIX UK TPEG 16 Data Traffic Master 8 Data Traffic Master 8 Data What s On 8 Data What s On 8 Data Radio X 80F M Radio X 80F M Any additional information/notes: Heart Extra 80F M 2

3 Part 3 Details of proposed change For each proposed change you wish to make to your licence, please answer the following question and then complete the relevant sections of the rest of the application form. Outline of proposed variation Set out details of how you wish your licence to be varied, e.g. is this a request to add a new programme service, to remove an existing service, to change the technical parameters of a service? This Variation request would add the annex description Music from the Last Three Decades to Digital One s licence and enable the launch of Heart Extra. Complete the following section if your request is to add, remove or replace a programme service. Details of existing service to be removed/replaced (if relevant) This information should be taken from your licence. Details of proposed new service (if relevant) For guidance on the style and content of DAB Format descriptions, please refer to the guidance Service provider: Service name: Short form description: Character of service: Service provider: Service name: Short form description: Character of service: Global Radio Heart Extra Music from the Last Three Decades A service featuring music from the last three decades with particular appeal to audiences aged Date you wish proposed change to be implemented February 2016 Is this proposed change linked to proposed changes on other multiplexes? If so, please provide details. 3

4 Please set out the statutory criterion, or criteria, that you believe is/are satisfied in relation to this radio multiplex licence variation request, and the reasons for this: For details of the statutory criteria, and relevant Ofcom policies, please refer to the guidance. The statutory criteria relevant to this change is as follows: In respect of a national radio multiplex licence, Ofcom shall vary the condition accordingly unless it appears to the Authority that, if the application were granted, the capacity of the digital sound programme services broadcast under the licence to appeal to a variety of tastes and interests would be unacceptably diminished (section 54(6A) of the Broadcasting Act 1996). Digital One is submitting this request to vary its licence after carefully considering its licence obligations. Background This new request is to add the Music from the Last Three Decades description. Ofcom has previously considered a request to add this description to Digital One s licence annex, and launch Heart Extra on Digital One. However, Global Radio then opted to substitute the launch of Radio X and the Rock Music description. Ofcom is also aware of the launch of Sound Digital in the spring of 2016, with the launch of new services and some content currently broadcast on Digital One. The launch of Heart Extra at the end of February is an important step in ensuring, at a point when digital radio is experiencing significant growth and change, Digital One continues to maximise its appeal to a range of tastes and interests. Music Policy Heart Extra will feature music from the last three decades and will play a mix of tracks from a variety of artists designed to appeal to the female age group, such as: Wham / Michael Jackson / Lionel Richie Pink / Take That / Phil Collins / George Michael / Whitney Houston Roxette / Robbie Williams / Bon Jovi / UB40 Justin Timberlake / Maroon 5 / Kylie Minogue / Coldplay / Keane Adele / Sam Smith / Bruno Mars The Heart Extra playlist will feature hits and tracks from mainstream commercial artists, informed by research about music which has high appeal for the target audience. Comparison of age and gender of existing D1 services RAJAR data shows that relatively few services on Digital One appeal to female listeners. Based on the demographic breakdown of Heart, Heart Extra is likely to appeal particularly to women. The addition of Heart Extra to the multiplex is therefore likely to increase significantly the appeal of services on Digital One to this demographic. The only other station currently on Digital One which appeals to this age and gender demographic is Magic. RAJAR analysis of the listenership of Heart and Magic in London, where both stations are well established on FM and DAB, shows that there is only a limited cross-over in listenership between these stations. Some two-thirds of Heart listeners in London do not listen to Magic at all. The female demographic is a significant group both for listening and commercial radio revenues. Global Radio believes that the addition of a Heart branded station nationally benefits listener choice and digital radio as a platform. 4

5 Age and Gender of Services on Digital One Classic FM 55 Classic FM Premier Christian 50 Radio Smooth Extra Smooth LBC LBC 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% % Male Magic Talksport Magic Absolute 80s Planet Rock % Male Heart % 40% 50% Absolute 60% Radio 70% 80% Heart 35 Kiss Talksport Absolute 80s Planet Rock 40 Radio X Absolute Capital XTRA Capital XTRA Source: RAJAR W Kiss Average Age 30 Average Age Commercial and Contract Issues During 2015, Global Radio made an expression of interest to Digital One to take additional capacity on the multiplex for services to develop distribution for its brands. Digital One s directors considered this, and other expressions of interest and, taking into account Digital One s licence obligations and commercial interests, selected Global Radio as the provider for this additional service. Please provide any additional information and/or evidence in support of the proposed change: 5

6 Complete the following section in respect of any new service being added. Multiplex /ensemble name: Long service name: Short service name: Service mode (stereo/joint stereo/mono): D1 National Multiplex Heart Extra TBC Mono Sampling rate (half full rate at 48kHz Protection level (UEP, 1-5) 3 Bit-rate: 80kbits/sec Does this service currently broadcast on another multiplex or another platform? If so, is this a 100% simulcast or will there be opt-outs? Please give details (including all known SIds) below: A new SId code will need to be issued for this service. (Dec 2012) Decision Request agreed under section 54(6A) of the Broadcasting Act 1996 that the variation would not unacceptably diminish the capacity of the licensed service to appeal to a variety of tastes and interests. January