Channel 4 and UBC Media have inked a development agreement to examine the possibility of launching a national digital radio station using the C4 brand and the Oneword licence.

"We recently took 100% control of the Oneword national licence because we believed it is an important asset in the portfolio we have built up since going public 4 years ago," said UBC CEO Simon Cole. "Its importance is confirmed by this development deal which we hope will lead to the creation of the UK's first bi-media commercial channel. We are looking forward to working with Channel 4 as we take this exciting project forward."

Oneword has carriage on digital cable, satellite and terrestrial TV, along with the national DAB multiplex Digital One - giving any new station from Channel 4 a relatively strong position on which to launch.