Emap And TWG Team Up For Multiplex Bids

The Wireless Group (TWG) and Emap have formed a joint venture to apply for the local digital multiplex radio licences in Swansea and Stoke-on-Trent.

The arrangement will see TWG take a 70% stake in the venture, while Emap takes on the remaining 30%. As part of the agreement Emap will also take a 20% stake in TWG’s local digital multiplex licence for Bradford and Huddersfield, due for a September launch.

The licences are due to be advertised by the Radio Authority in the summer. TWG chief executive Kelvin MacKenzie commented: “Both Swansea and Stoke are significant markets and I believe the combination of TWG’s heritage brands with Emap’s music brands will make a terrific digital line-up”

TWG already owns the leading commercial stations in the two areas in question, as well as national speech station TalkSPORT and stakes in two of the London multiplexes, while Emap already operates seven wholly own digital radio multiplexes as well as the Kiss and Magic brands and is in the process of developing a Smash Hits digital radio brand based on the magazine of the same brand.

Emap: 01733 568 900 www.emap.co.uk Radio Authority: 020 7430 2724 www.radioauthority.org.uk Wireless Group: 020 7269 7180

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