The line-up of 10 stations includes a Sky News station, while Channel 4 will operate E4 Radio, Channel 4 Radio and Pure4 Radio. For the full line-up, see below.
Schwarz emphasised not only the consortium's focus on helping radio adapt to the digital age, but also Channel 4's credibility as a competitor to the dominance of the public service BBC in radio, although she refused to disclose its content budget.
Channel 4 Radio is the controlling partner in the consortium with a 55% stake. UBC is the smallest with 5%, while Emap, UTV Radio, Carphone Warehouse and the partnership of Chrysalis and Sky all own 10% each.
The bid's scope reaches beyond the station broadcast model to podcasts, with a list of producers including the NME, the Financial Times, Gaydar, Penguin and The Prince's Trust.
It also goes beyond content to agreements with radio manufacturers and retailers to develop devices with greater appeal to consumers, from mobile phones and car radios to traditional sets.
At the same time as promising to take back share from the BBC, Schwarz said she had managed to secure its cooperation in pushing for full consumer take-up of digital radio. She later said it was possible to push the BBC's share back from 55% to under 50%.
The consortium will spend £4.5m on general marketing of digital radio in the first three years of the licence period. Schwarz said it was paramount that it was embraced by consumers before television broadcasting goes entirely digital in 2012.
The consortium is aiming to cover 88% of the population and 94% of the motorway network via transmission partner Arqiva before it launches.
Marketing support for the 10 individual stations has been put at over £25m in media value over the first three years.
Schwarz said: "We will serve a broad spectrum of audiences -- from mainstream to niche, minority groups to children -- in both speech and music. Our vision is to put radio back where it belongs -- at the heart of a multimedia, multi-platform UK."
The 10 stations are:
- E4 Radio, owned by Channel 4, described as an interactive music and entertainment station targeting 15- to 29-year-olds on the look-out for the best of what's new in music, comedy and entertainment, delivered in E4's inimitable, mischievous style, with an emphasis on interactivity;
- Channel 4 Radio, owned by Channel 4, described as a contemporary speech-based station targeting 30- to 54-year-olds with public service values, infusing a blend of lively debate and entertainment. It will be driven by intelligent, informed and often provocative opinion and conversation, with news and current affairs at its core;
- Pure4, owned by Channel 4, described as a station for music lovers, home of the original radical artists from the worlds of music and culture, and also with a mission to identify new talent;
- Talk Radio, owned by UTV, described as an all-speech service featuring opinionated presentation and lively debate;
- Closer, owned by Emap, described as a broad mix of current and classic chart music with lifestyle conversation targeting women aged 30 and over;
- Sky News Radio, a joint venture between BSkyB and Chrysalis, described as bringing Sky News' approach to 24-hour rolling TV news to radio;
- Sunrise Radio UK, owned by Sunrise Radio, described as a personality-led, music-dominated station serving Britain's growing appetite for Asian music and culture;
- Virgin Radio Viva, owned by Virgin Radio, described as a new station targeting fun-loving, fearless women between the ages of 15 and 30;
- Original, owned by CanWest Media Networks, described as an album-led music station aimed at 40- to 59-year-olds, mixing music with meaningful speech;
- Radio Disney, owned by Disney, described as the UK's first national radio station devoted to children, mixing music, entertainment and education.
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