7DIG.L Regulatory News (7DIG)

2 Feb 2006 07:01

UBC Media Group PLC02 February 2006 2 February 2006 UBC reports increase in digital listening UBC Media Group plc (UBC), the digital radio broadcaster and programme producer,is pleased to report that, in the latest official RAJAR audience figurespublished today, its digital services continue to benefit from the rapidconsumer uptake of digital radio. Research from the Digital Radio DevelopmentBoard ("DRDB") shows that more than 10% of the population now own a DAB set athome. In the latest RAJAR report, both Classic Gold Digital ("CGDL"), UBC's network ofanalogue and digital stations and Oneword, the national digital station whichUBC owns jointly with Channel 4 Television, have shown increases in digitallistening. Comparing this quarter (Q4, 2005) with the same period last year, listening inCGDL's digital areas is up 11% (Q4 2004 1,561,000 listening hours, Q4 20051,743,000 listening hours). At Oneword the growth is 64% (Q4 2004 280,000listening hours, Q4 2005 460,000 listening hours). As expected, analogue listening at CGDL is declining. However, due to strongdigital growth in the last 3 months, CGDL increased its overall total ofanalogue and digital listening hours across the UK quarter on quarter by 1% to7,788,000 (Q3, 2005: 7,704,000), while its weekly reach grew by the samepercentage to 791,000 (Q3, 2005: 782,000). Commenting on the RAJAR figures, Simon Cole, Chief Executive of UBC said: "More than 10% of all radio listening is now to digital services. As thatproportion continues to grow we can expect to see our services benefiting.Promoting our services to the new digital listeners is now vital. We have justbegun the first cross promoted programming between Oneword and our partners atChannel 4 television. In addition, Classic Gold is about to create Britain'sfirst 'Digital Street' in a national promotion with Dixons Store Group. Ibelieve that these kinds of initiatives will keep us at the forefront of thegrowth in digital listening" - ends - For further information, please contact: Simon Cole, CEO, UBC Media Group plc Tel: 020 7453 1600 Andrew Sholl, Portland Tel: 020 7404 5344 About UBC Media Group UBC Media Group plc is a UK public company quoted on the London Stock Exchange'sAIM market. The Group is a market leader in the supply of content to the radio,Internet and digital television industries in the UK. In addition to theentertainment and traffic and travel news services provided to commercial radio,the Group is the largest independent producer of radio programming for the BBC. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange