Bauer is seeking to take advantage of recent Ofcom policy allowing regional FM stations to shed their obligations to provide local material in return for providing their service across the UK on DAB.
This would result in the three regional Kiss FM stations – Kiss 100 in London, Kiss 101 in the Severn Estuary and Kiss 105 in the East of England – changing their current local programming to the same national version of Kiss. Production would be relocated to London.
Kiss' DAB footprint, which currently reaches 55% of the UK adult population, would be expanded initially to 73% and then to 79.6% after "a matter of months", according to Bauer.
Ofcom is asking for views on whether the level of coverage proposed is sufficient to constitute national coverage. It has no issue with the programming change request.
Bauer has proposed to increase the DAB footprint by adding Kiss to more local DAB multiplexes. It said it would give consideration within three years to further expanding coverage by moves such as transferring Kiss to the national Digital One multiplex.
The consultation closes on 26 November and Ofcom will make a final decision early next year.
Kiss would be following in the footsteps of GMG Radio-owned brand . According to an Ofcom spokesman, the regulator did not consult in Smooth's case on the level of coverage because the brand went on to the national Digital One multiplex.
Global Radio has already made Heart into a national brand, and , by renaming local stations and introducing more shared programming.
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