Re Agreement
ITIS Holdings PLC
10 July 2007
EXCLUSIVE LICENCE WITH 4 DIGITAL GROUP
ITIS Holdings plc ('ITIS' or the 'Company') is pleased to announce that through
its partnership with 4 Digital Group it has secured exclusive access to data
capacity (channel bandwidth) on the UK's second National Digital Radio multiplex
for 12 years. ITIS will provide a range of traffic information services aimed
at factory fitted and portable navigation systems.
This exclusive agreement will enable ITIS not only to provide a continuity of
its quality service to its existing customer base throughout the transition
period of analogue to digital radio switchover, but also to enrich and increase
its dynamic content offering.
4 Digital Group, a consortium comprising Channel 4, EMAP, UTV, BSkyB/Chrysalis,
Carphone Warehouse and UBC, has recently been awarded the licence by Ofcom to
operate the UK's second National Digital Radio multiplex for a period of 12
years.
The development of the 4 Digital Group's transmission infrastructure will be
rolled out over the next 18 months and ITIS is already in discussion with a
number of its automotive and mobile device clients regarding the joint
development of services which will utilise the licensed data capacity.
Stuart Marks, Chief Executive of ITIS, commented 'The UK has led the progressive
development and roll out of digital radio and we are very pleased to have a
licence with this consortium. ITIS has always recognised the potential of
developing and operating services to support our customers using digital radio
and we have been active in the pre-development of standards which are necessary
in our business to facilitate wide scale adoption. We bring a wealth of
experience and knowledge of the automotive sector to 4 Digital as we already
operate the UK's leading broadcast traffic data service using analogue based RDS
TMC under a separate Ofcom licence. This new digital capacity will ensure the
continuity and enhancement of our services whilst enabling ITIS to be at the
forefront of new receiver technology.'
Nathalie Schwarz, Director of Radio for Channel 4 stated. 'The 4 Digital Group
will play an important part in digital radio in the UK and we are delighted to
be working with ITIS who will be using this digital capacity to launch the next
generation of traffic and travel information services to drivers.'
- ends -
Contact: Stuart Marks, ITIS Holdings plc - 0161 929 5788
Ginny Pulbrook, Citigate Dewe Rogerson - 0207 638 9571
Kirsty Barr, 4 Digital Group - 07876 440648
Note to Editors
ITIS background material
ITIS Holdings plc, listed on AIM, is the UK's leading provider of traffic
information and technologies. ITIS has invested in the development of a unique
system for the collection and analysis of traffic information, it combines
journalistic information with ITIS' historic and real-time Floating Vehicle Data
(FVDTM) to provide journey time forecasts and real-time updates.
ITIS now operates the largest commercial application of FVD anywhere in the
world, and delivers the content over a variety of platforms including RDS-TMC
(Alert C), digital radio and automated telephone services (IVR) under the AA
RoadWatch brand.
ITIS traffic information is collated from a combination of journalistic and
real-time sources using its own FVD network. The data is then transmitted
directly to the TMC receiver using a carrier of the Classic FM radio network,
which provides coverage of 90% of the strategic road network.
ITIS provide traffic data to all mobile phone providers. To receive up-to-date
traffic and travel information direct from your mobile 'phone call 64644 from
any network; 2222 from Vodafone; 2020 from T-mobile. Calling the 64644
trafficline gives you access to so much more than up-to-the-second traffic
updates for any road in the UK. Studio broadcasts and Live studio broadcasts
from our traffic studio detail incidents and jams and give you a far more
rounded picture of any problem on the roads. Visit www.keepmoving.co.uk for more
information.
For further information visit www.itisholdings.com
4 Digital Group background material
4 Digital Group is a multi-media alliance combining leading UK radio,
television, publishing, retail and technology companies. Led by Channel 4 Radio,
the other shareholders are Emap Digital Radio Ltd, UTV Radio (GB) Ltd, BSkyB /
Chrysalis, The Carphone Warehouse Group plc and UBC Media Group plc.
Proposed national stations:
• E4 Radio, run by Channel 4 Radio, will be 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.
• Channel 4 Radio, run by Channel 4 Radio, will be a contemporary speech-based
station with public service values infusing a blend of lively debate and
entertainment targeted at 30 to 54-year-olds.
• Pure4, run by Channel 4 Radio, will be a knowledgeable, accessible radio
station for music lovers, home of the original radical artists from the
worlds of music and culture.
• Talk Radio, from UTV Radio, will be an all-speech service featuring
opinionated presentation and lively debate.
• Emap's proposed station, Closer, will be a broad mix of current and classic
chart music with lifestyle conversation aimed at women aged 30 and over.
• Sky News Radio, a joint venture between BSkyB and Chrysalis, will bring Sky
News' admired approach to 24-hour rolling TV news to radio.
• Sunrise Radio UK will be a personality-led, music-dominated station serving
Britain's growing appetite for Asian music and culture.
• Virgin Radio Viva, run by SMG, will be a new station for fun-loving,
fearless women between the ages of 15 and 30.
• Operated by CanWest MediaWorks, Original will be an album-led music station
aimed at 40 to 59-year-olds, mixing music with meaningful speech.
• Radio Disney will be the UK's first national radio station devoted to
children, mixing music, entertainment and education.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange