The rival consortiums bidding for UK regional digital radio licences are beginning to take shape.
The Digital Radio Group has finalised its line-up, with mobile phone retailer the Carphone Warehouse and radio and magazine company Emap joining the GWR Group, Wireless Group and Virgin Radio, which is owned by SMG.
The companies, which all have experience of running digital radio operations, will bid for the north-east, Severn Estuary, West Midlands, north-west and Yorkshire licences over the next two years.
The licences will be awarded on a "beauty contest" basis, rather than according to the size of the bid.
Ralph Bernard, chairman of the Digital Radio Group, said: "The addition of these new partners brings an unrivalled level of expertise and experience to the consortium."
DRG will run against the MXR consortium, which has added technology company Psion InfoMedia and the UBC Media Group to its shareholders. The core members are Chrysalis, Capital Radio, Jazz FM and the Guardian Media Group, which between them own the analogue versions of the regional licences that are up for sale.
Chrysalis Radio chief executive Phil Riley said: "Providing compelling and innovative data is something the MXR consortium members wanted to do. We're thrilled to have found the right partners to do it with."
The first licence up for grabs is for the north-east of England, with an October 17 closing date for all bids.
Digital radio provides bundles of audio services to portable radios, in-car radios and PCs, and offers a much clearer reception than normal analogue radio.
