4th Dec 2007 07:30
UBC Media Group PLC04 December 2007 4 December 2007 UBC Media Group plc ("UBC" or "the company") Innovative Music Download service, CLIQ launch • Innovative CLIQ service launches today, available nationally on 21 commercial radio stations, with a reach of 12 million commercial radio listeners (49% of total commercial radio audience) • Service available on 85% of existing mobile handsets • Exclusive agreement with Carphone Warehouse announced to run retail promotion campaign Digital radio specialist UBC (UBC.L) is pleased to announce that it has todaylaunched its innovative Cliq(TM) music purchase system nationally on 21commercial radio stations and has outlined its plans to market the service overthe next six months, including a partnership with The Carphone Warehouse for aretail promotion campaign. In total, more than 12 million commercial radio listeners throughout the UK willbe able to buy music from their favourite radio stations from today. Mostmajor towns or cities will have at least two Cliq enabled radio stations.Stations from major radio groups EMAP, Guardian Media Group and Global Radio areincluded. In London, six stations, including the two market leaders Magic andHeart, will be 'Cliq(TM) enabled'. A full list of Cliq enabled stations isincluded in the notes below. The Cliq(TM) technology, developed exclusively by UBC, operates on the majorityof existing mobile phones; approximately 85% of currently available handsetswill operate the system on any mobile network. Listeners can call up the songscurrently playing on any Cliq(TM) radio station and buy them instantly. UBC hasbuilt a partnership with mobile banking specialists Mi-Pay to create a secureplatform that allows radio stations to create listener pre-pay accounts. The impulse purchase of music is the first application of the technology.Listeners are offered the application free and their first song for free bytexting to a short code number. UBC believe that the opportunity to buy musicas you hear it will be a significant driver of adoption for the technology.From next summer, the same technology will be embedded in digital radiosproduced by Pure. UBC's aim is that the Cliq(TM) system becomes an industrystandard for interactive commerce and to that end it is making the entire systemfreely available to all radio operators. Airtime campaigns will begin running on most stations from today. This will becombined with a viral marketing campaign, including a Cliq Facebook application.In Q1 2008, just before the arrival of Cliq-enabled digital radios throughPure, UBC will partner with The Carphone Warehouse for a retail promotioncampaign, due to start in early 2008. Further details will be announced in duecourse. ENDS ENQUIRIES Simon Cole, CEO, UBC Media Group plc Tel: 020 7453 1600Diane Barnes or Verity Williams, Portland for UBC Tel: 020 7404 5344Sarah Jacobs, Seymour Pierce for UBC Tel: 020 7107 8000 About UBC Media Group UBC is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market. The Group is the marketleader in the supply of audio content and broadcast data software to the radioindustry in the UK. In addition to the entertainment, traffic & travel andnational news services provided to commercial radio, the Group is the largestindependent producer of radio programming for the BBC and the UK's leadingsupplier of digital radio scrolling text and EPG software. It is also part ofthe MXR Regional Multiplex consortium and the 4Digital National Multiplexconsortium. www.ubcmedia.com About CLIQ CLIQ allows listeners to purchase tracks instantly using their mobile as theyare broadcast by radio stations. Initially the service will operate using a JAVAapplication that sits on mobile phones. Consumers will register via SMS toreceive the service which is compatible with 85% of mobile phones. Oncepurchased, the tracks will be available for download from cliqradio.co.uk whereeach customer will have their own account and music transaction library.Customers will be able to top up their credit both online and using their mobiledevice. The download cost is £1.25. Cliq Stations at launch are: Century North East, Century North West, CenturyDigital, Galaxy Birmingham, Galaxy Manchester, Galaxy North East, GalaxyYorkshire, Galaxy Digital, Heart East Midlands, Heart West Midlands, HeartDigital, Heart London, Heat, Magic, Real Radio Scotland, Real Radio Wales, RealRadio Yorkshire, Smooth East Midlands, Smooth Glasgow, Smooth London, SmoothWest Midlands. CLIQ will launch on digital radios in 2008. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
7DIG.L