ntl delivers for digital radio groups

As Score Digital prepares to hit the airwaves in Edinburgh (late October), ntl continues its success in digital radio services with end-to-end multiplexing, distribution and transmission for Now Digital, GWR’s local multiplex company, in Wolverhampton, Bristol/Bath and Coventry.

Other local multiplexes under construction are for Emap’s South Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear and Liverpool licences; and the Cardiff/Newport area for Capital – all due on-air later this year. Emap’s central Lancashire, Leeds and Teesside services will follow next year.

ntl is already providing a full transmission service for the CE Digital licences for London, Birmingham and Manchester, Score Digital in Glasgow and the Digital One national network.

ntl is able to provide digital radio groups with an all-inclusive package because it has located its multiplexing centres strategically around the UK at node points on its national fibre network. This enables ntl to offer the various content providers within a multiplex easy connectivity from their studios.

Grae Allan, managing director of Score Digital, said: “ntl is leading the field in digital radio services because it not only has the technical expertise to implement these new and complex systems but it also has the telecoms capability in-house. It makes for a very competitive offering.???

Russ Stuart, managing director of GWR Digital, added: “ntl has been providing GWR Group with first-rate transmission services for many years. We are very happy to be developing that long relationship into the digital era with Now Digital.???

ntl began its innovative approach to digital radio with the multiplexing and transmission network for Digital One, the only UK-wide commercial digital radio service. Special software developed exclusively with RadioScape has revolutionised the way radio stations operate, configure and monitor their output in the digital domain. ntl is now turning its attention to servicing regional multiplexes, for which the Radio Authority has recently started advertising licences.