7DIG.L Regulatory News (7DIG)

19 Jan 2006 11:26

UBC Media Group PLC19 January 2006 Channel 4 Radio Programmes Launch On Oneword UBC Media Group plc (LSE: UBC.LN) is pleased to announce that the first Channel4 radio programme to be broadcast on its digital radio joint venture withChannel 4 television, Oneword, will premiere tomorrow. The weekly series focusing on major news issues of the day will begin airing at8am on Friday, 20 January, on Oneword and will be cross-promoted tonight onChannel 4 News. UBC and Channel 4 are taking advantage of a relaxation in therules governing cross-promotion announced last summer by Ofcom. The first programme, "From Mellow to Mental", will feature a highly topicalinvestigation into cannabis and its re-classification. Commenting on the launch of the series, Simon Cole, CEO of UBC said: "This is an extremely significant development. When we sold 51% of Oneword toC4 last year, we said that our aim in forming the joint venture was, for thefirst time in commercial radio, to create the kind of TV and radio crosspromotion that has proved so powerful for the BBC in generating listening to itsdigital services. In an increasingly competitive multi-channel radio future,the stations that stand out will be those with distinctive programming and astrong cross-platform brand. We believe that, in partnership with Channel 4, wecan build Oneword into a powerful new national station to compete with the bestin speech radio." Speaking at the Oxford Media Convention, Chief Executive of Channel 4, AndyDuncan, said: "Digital radio is a key part of the new media landscape and Channel 4 needs tobe there ... Our involvement will be a real boost for commercial radio." - ends - For further information, please contact: Simon Cole CEO, UBC Media Group plc Tel: 020 7453 1600 Andrew Sholl or Tim Allan Portland Tel: 07736 36 46 56 andrew.sholl@portlandpr.co.uk Notes to Editors: UBC Media Group plc is one of only two publicly-quoted radio Groups with digitalradio services available on DAB, Sky, Freeview and the Internet. UBC is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market. The Group is the marketleader in the supply of audio content and broadcast data software to the radioindustry in the UK. In addition to the entertainment, traffic & travel andnational news services provided to commercial radio, the Group is the largestindependent producer of radio programming for the BBC and the UK's leadingsupplier of digital radio scrolling text and EPG software. The Group also hassignificant digital radio broadcasting interests including Classic Gold Digital,the nationally distributed classic hits format. It is also part of the MXRRegional Multiplex consortium. About Oneword Radio broadcasts a quality speech service on the nationalmultiplex, Digital One and was the Sony Radio digital station of the year for2003. In April 2005 UBC completed an agreement with Channel 4 TelevisionCorporation, for Channel 4 to acquire a 51% interest in Oneword Radio for a cashconsideration of £1 million. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange