• Multiplexing and transmission contracts for Now Digital
• Last of current batch of digital radio licences
• NTL provides over 90% of local/regional digital radio transmission

NTL's Broadcast division has won the last four available multiplexing and transmission contracts in the current batch of digital radio licences.  12-year contracts have been awarded to NTL for the Reading & Basingstoke and Cambridge multiplexes owned by GWR Group's local multiplex company, Now Digital, and for the Nottingham and Plymouth/Cornwall multiplexes of consortia led by Now Digital.

These four contracts bring to 42 the total number of local and regional digital radio multiplexes handled by NTL.  In addition the company provides multiplexing and transmission for Digital One, the national commercial digital radio service which now reaches over 85% of the UK population.

Now Digital East Midlands launched the Nottingham multiplex at the end of April with transmitters at Mapperley Ridge and Waltham.

The Reading & Basingstoke multiplex launches on 31 July, serving over half a million people in Berkshire and North Hampshire.  Initially from the Hannington, Hemdean and Coppid Beech (Bracknell) transmitters, one additional site is due to supplement coverage in Basingstoke when local planning issues have been resolved.  The Cambridge service is due to launch in the autumn.

South West Digital Radio will operate two separate multiplexes for Plymouth and Cornwall from transmitters at Plympton, Redruth and Caradon Hill.  This will bring local DAB digital radio to around 70 percent of the people living in Plymouth and Cornwall.  On-air dates are currently planned for October/November as the last currently available Band III DAB allocations are taken up.

Gregory Watson, GWR Group's Corporate Development Director, said: "These latest multiplexes mark the end of a long and crucial chapter in the history of digital radio.  Through Now Digital, GWR Group and NTL have worked together on 14 multiplexes and the whole face of radio has been transformed by the developments we have seen over the last few years.  We look forward to further opportunities to work together in this exciting and rapidly evolving medium."

Paul Eaton, NTL's head of broadcast radio, added: "As we reach this watershed in digital radio, we can confidently say that the medium is now firmly established whether by direct DAB reception or via the various television platforms.  It doesn't matter what technology is used, as long as people are listening to the programmes.  We at NTL are proud of the part we have played in the delivery process."

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