7DIG.L Regulatory News (7DIG)

25 Jun 2007 07:03

UBC Media Group PLC25 June 2007 25 June 2007 UBC announces brand name and significant developments for service allowing musicpurchase directly from radio stations. UBC Media plc (UBC:L) today announces that it is to name its Instant MusicBuying Service 'Cliq'. The service will allow consumers to instantly buy the music they like as theyhear it on the radio. The system works by broadcasting, in a dedicated datachannel, a real-time information service with track details and a "buy" button,alongside the radio station's audio stream. Cliq is broadcasting in trial formon the digital service of Heart 106.2 in London and UBC is preparing to launchcommercially later this year. The service currently operates on the 'Lobster'digital radio mobile phone available from Virgin Mobile. UBC is today detailing a major expansion of the service, which will now be madeavailable at launch to more radio listeners. Today, UBC has announced separately that it has reached agreement withImagination Technologies (Imagination/IMG) to combine Imagination's new DAB andInternet digital radio platform with 'Cliq'. Imagination Technologies willbring in-home devices that support the Cliq service to market through its PUREDigital division. In the mobile environment, in addition to the Lobster, UBC is now developing anapplication that will display the Cliq service on any mobile phone with 'Java'capability. 85% of mobile phones in the UK are capable of running Java andthis application will mean that the growing number of people who listen to FMradio on mobile phones will be able to call up a track listing for theirfavourite radio stations and buy songs as they are played. UBC has put in place the technical infrastructure as well as agreements withmajor record companies and radio groups to enable the service in the UK.However, the Company also believes that there are major licensing opportunitiesfor its Cliq service outside the UK. RTE, the national Irish broadcaster hasconfirmed that it will operate a Cliq service as part of the digital radiotrials starting in Eire this year. UBC expects to announce other Europeantrials in the near future. Simon Cole, Chief Executive of UBC commented: "Having the ability to market the service on both an in-home and a mobile devicefrom launch, with the leading digital radio hardware supplier on board, Ibelieve is a very strong proposition. Having already secured the backing of allthe major radio groups and record companies I believe we have reached a point ofcritical mass, and a situation where the astute players in the industry want tobe involved in something which is going to change the way the consumer utilisesthe radio." Ends Enquiries Simon Cole, Chief Executive, UBC Media Group plc: Tel: 020 7453 1600 Diane Barnes, Portland for UBC: Tel: 020 7404 5344 Notes to Editors About UBC Media Group UBC is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market. The Group is themarket leader in the supply of audio content and broadcast data software to theradio industry in the UK. In addition to the entertainment, traffic and traveland national news services provided to commercial radio, the Group is thelargest independent producer of radio programming for the BBC and the UK'sleading supplier of digital radio scrolling text and EPG software. The Groupalso has a partnership with Channel 4 Television in national speech stationOneword and is part of the MXR Regional Multiplex consortium. About Imagination Technologies Imagination Technologies develops and licenses innovative silicon and softwareintellectual property (IP) for system-on-chip (SoC) devices targeting multimediaand communication applications. The company offers an expanding range of complementary IP cores, licensed bymany of the world's leading silicon device suppliers including Intel, Renesas,Samsung, Sharp and TI. UBC Media is the UK's largest independent producer of radio content, serving thecommercial sector as well as the BBC with radio programming and productionservices. It also has an Interactive arm which is the leading supplier ofinteractive technology to DAB Digital Radio broadcasters in the UK. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange