BSkyB, The Carphone Warehouse group and UBC Media are also involved as shareholders while CanWest, Disney and Asian radio network Sunrise complete the line up as station providers.
At the official launch of 4DigitalGroup this morning, Channel 4 director of radio Nathalie Schwarz announced plans for a E4 Radio, a contemporary music and entertainment service for 15-29-year-olds, Channel 4 Radio, a contemporary speech station including "lively debate and entertainment" and Pure 4, the home of the "original radical artists from the worlds of music and culture".
If the bid was successful new stations would also include Talk Radio, from UTV; Closer, a music station targeting women over-30 based around the existing Emap magazine, Virgin Radio Viva for "fun, young and fearless females aged 15-29;" and a 24-hour rolling news station from BSkyB and Chrysalis called Sky News Radio.
As a tie-in with the partnership Chrysalis will be rebranding its existing London news station, LBC News 1152AM, as Sky News Radio for London. The station will become a regional sister station to the national Sky News Radio, retaining relevant local news, traffic and travel, weather and sport for London as part of its output.
CanWest will provide a version of its Original format as an album-led music station for 40-59-year-olds and Radio Disney will offer a service for children, mixing music, entertainment and education.
National Grid Wireless, which is yet to announce its partners for the rival bid, has revealed that if successful it would launch its service on 29 February next year, offering 12 new national digital radio services including an adult album station, one for over-50s and Radio Luxembourg for the under-30 age group, with "a mix of new music and active rock".
Premier Christian Radio would also be on offer as well as a rolling news channel, a station for the Asian community and one for children.
There would also be two spots reserved for 4Radio content, one with a music and entertainment base and the other a talk-based service.
.jpg)
.jpg)