British Sky Broadcasting and Carphone Warehouse are poised to enter the radio industry, having put their names into a bid for the UK’s second national digital radio multiplex. The bid, led by Channel 4, is backed by a consortium including BSkyB, Carphone, Emap, UTV, UBC, Chrysalis and Virgin Radio. The consortium is bidding against National Grid Wireless for the multiplex licence. It is understood that the shareholders are putting in an initial £2m for the Channel 4 consortium. Apart from a £50,000 fee paid to Ofcom, the licence itself is free. The consortium will pay for building a network if and when it wins the licence.
