4Radio delayed to autumn launch

by Sarah Crawley-Boevey, Media Week 12-Feb-08, 09:50

The launch of the first services on Channel 4’s planned national DAB multiplex is now set for the autumn, despite assurances in its original licence application that most stations would be-on air this summer.

After awarding Channel 4's licence last July, Ofcom said Channel 4 must launch its digital radio service within one year of the licence award. Also, in the timetable for the commencement of services that formed part of Channel 4's application to Ofcom, it was stated that Channel 4 would launch all three of its radio stations within 11 months of the commencement of the licence period, which was 6 July last year.

While Channel 4 will not publicly commit to a launch date, Nathalie Schwarz, who led the broadcaster's bid last year, insisted that the company had "always said it was going to be a summer/autumn launch".

While Channel 4 has admitted it will be launching speech station Channel 4 Radio three months later than planned, in April 2009, an Ofcom spokesman said the group will not be held to every date on the licence and so will not run the risk of incurring further penalties.

The spokesman said that launching the multiplex within one year of the licence award - July 2008 - was a licence condition and therefore Channel 4 would be required to request a variation of the condition, should it require such a delay.