Digital operator to trial business radio station
A DEDICATED business radio station for Greater Manchester will be trialled along with five other digital channels in the city.
Broadcast regulator Ofcom has selected Manchester as one of 10 locations to trial the next generation of digital radio.
Cheshire company Niocast Digital has been awarded a licence to operate a nine-month experiment in the city.
Niocast Digital’s director of operations, David Duffy said “Digital is the future of radio in the UK. Although many stations can already be found on DAB here in Manchester, we still fall a long way short of London in terms of listener choice. We’re pleased that Ofcom has recognised this and we look forward to launching six new digital stations to complement the existing range of formats.”
Because of the costs involved, DAB has, historically, been beyond the means of small independent operators, adn the current trial is Ofcom’s response to this quandary.
Niocast’s director of programming and content, John Evington added: “Niocast Digital’s proposal brings together partners from commercial, community and online radio. Our six great new digital services will cater for ethnic, lifestyle, specialist and general audiences across the city. Now we’ve been given the go ahead, we aim to have things up and running within weeks.”
The new stations, including Manchester Business Radio, which Nicoast describes as an “unique B2B station” are expected to launch in early September.
Evington, added: “We aim to reach and connect with anyone in Manchester involved in running a business or looking to start out in business. We’ll celebrate the achievements and success stories and offer a unique media platform to the city’s key opinion-formers and business leaders.
“Our ambition is to become the essential source of news, views, opinions, ideas and inspiration for Manchester’s business community 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
Niocast’s transmitter will be based on the roof of Manchester One on Portland Street, while Manchester Business Radio will operate from Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce’s offices on Deansgate.
