UBC Media Group
Encyclopedia
UBC Media Group is an independent supplier of services to the radio industry. It provides content to BBC and commercial stations, as well as private clients. UBC also supplies software that operates digital radio data services.
and Tim Blackmore in 1989.
Cole is Chief Executive, having started out as a trainee at the BBC and developed national sponsored programmes whilst at Piccadilly Radio in Manchester.
Blackmore is the Group Editorial Director, and has a background in radio production with BBC Radio One and Capital Radio. He is a Fellow of The Radio Academy
.
which includes digital and analogue licences from GWR Group in two separate transactions in 2000 and 2002 for about £2m. In 2007, UBC effectively sold them back for £3.95m to GCap Media
- the company created from the merger of GWR Group and Capital Radio Group.
In July 2006, as part of UBC's move away from owning radio stations, it sold its share in Digital News Network (DNN)
for £66k.
In December 2007, UBC bought the remaining 51% stake in Oneword
Radio from Channel Four Television for £1, and then closed the loss-making speech DAB radio station one month later.
In May 2008, UBC announced its Commercial Division was being bought by the American company, GTN
for £15 million. The deal was expected to complete around the end of July 2008; a definitive agreement was announced in February 2009.
In June 2008, UBC announced it was closing down its loss-making venture Cliq, a service which allowed DAB listeners to download music to onto their mobile phones. The system was designed to be implemented on DAB-enabled mobile phones, but few manufacturers have been interested in adding DAB to their handsets.
Two years on, and the company pulled out of DAB by selling its 7.5% stake in MXR Digital. The stake was bought by fellow shareholder Guardian Media Group
for £136,000 plus a one-off cash dividend payment from MXR of £52,000.
The move is part of UBC's strategy to focus on the production of content and the development of interactive software. As part of the agreement, UBC was also released from its spectrum contracts that were due to run until 2015 with MXR. This enabled UBC to release circa £400,000 of provision which had been made to cover this contract.
The company also produces Digital Content in the form of podcasts for various clients, while Unique Facilities offers in-house and outside broadcast production facilities from its base near Marylebone, London.
UBC’s post-tax operating loss for the year (2006–2007) was £1.26 million (compared to £193,000 in 2005-2006).
The company is focussing on reducing costs and increasing profitability by ditching its digital radio stations and concentrating on providing content.
Staff
UBC (Unique Broadcasting Company) was founded by Simon ColeSimon Cole
Simon Cole is Chief Executive of UBC Media Group. He co-founded the Unique Broadcasting Company in 1989, which floated on the London Stock Exchange in July 2000 as part of UBC Media Group. Simon started his radio career as a BBC trainee, moving to Manchester in the early 1980s where he became...
and Tim Blackmore in 1989.
Cole is Chief Executive, having started out as a trainee at the BBC and developed national sponsored programmes whilst at Piccadilly Radio in Manchester.
Blackmore is the Group Editorial Director, and has a background in radio production with BBC Radio One and Capital Radio. He is a Fellow of The Radio Academy
Radio Academy
The Radio Academy is a registered charity that is dedicated to 'the encouragement, recognition and promotion of excellence in UK broadcasting and audio production'....
.
History
UBC bought the Classic Gold Digital NetworkClassic Gold Digital Network
Classic Gold Digital Network was one of the biggest 'gold' formatted radio networks in the United Kingdom, with a potential audience of 47 million. Classic Gold was broadcast on analogue and DAB digital platforms, as well as Sky channel 0189.-History:...
which includes digital and analogue licences from GWR Group in two separate transactions in 2000 and 2002 for about £2m. In 2007, UBC effectively sold them back for £3.95m to GCap Media
GCap Media
GCap Media was a British commercial radio company formed from the merger of the Capital Radio Group and GWR Group. The merger was completed in May 2005. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. On 31 March 2008 the company agreed a takeover by...
- the company created from the merger of GWR Group and Capital Radio Group.
In July 2006, as part of UBC's move away from owning radio stations, it sold its share in Digital News Network (DNN)
DNN (radio)
DNN or the Digital News Network was a rolling news service on Digital Radio in the United Kingdom.-Background:It was revolutionary for the British radio market as it was the first regional network of news stations...
for £66k.
In December 2007, UBC bought the remaining 51% stake in Oneword
Oneword
Oneword Radio was a British commercial digital radio station featuring books, drama, comedy, children's programming, and discussion. The station was available in the UK via digital radio and digital television and was streamed on the internet 24 hours a day worldwide...
Radio from Channel Four Television for £1, and then closed the loss-making speech DAB radio station one month later.
In May 2008, UBC announced its Commercial Division was being bought by the American company, GTN
Global Traffic Network
Global Traffic Network is a helicopter traffic reporting service that provides reports to radio and television stations across the United States and Canada...
for £15 million. The deal was expected to complete around the end of July 2008; a definitive agreement was announced in February 2009.
In June 2008, UBC announced it was closing down its loss-making venture Cliq, a service which allowed DAB listeners to download music to onto their mobile phones. The system was designed to be implemented on DAB-enabled mobile phones, but few manufacturers have been interested in adding DAB to their handsets.
Two years on, and the company pulled out of DAB by selling its 7.5% stake in MXR Digital. The stake was bought by fellow shareholder Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group plc is a company of the United Kingdom owning various mass media operations including The Guardian and The Observer. The Group is owned by the Scott Trust. It was founded as the Manchester Guardian Ltd in 1907 when C. P. Scott bought the Manchester Guardian from the estate of...
for £136,000 plus a one-off cash dividend payment from MXR of £52,000.
The move is part of UBC's strategy to focus on the production of content and the development of interactive software. As part of the agreement, UBC was also released from its spectrum contracts that were due to run until 2015 with MXR. This enabled UBC to release circa £400,000 of provision which had been made to cover this contract.
1) Broadcast Division
UBC produces Commissioned programming to the BBC via its production companies:- Unique - Radio production (based in London)
- Smooth Operations - TV and Radio production (based in Manchester). Smooth Operations also produce BBC events such as The Radio 2 Folk AwardsBBC Radio 2 Folk AwardsThe BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards celebrate outstanding achievement during the previous year within the field of folk music. The awards have been given annually since 2000 by British radio station BBC Radio 2....
. Along with BBC Commissioned programming, they produce TV content for Sky Arts, covering live music events such as Cambridge Folk Festival and Celtic Connections. They also produce commissioned radio programming for RTÉ 2fm.
The company also produces Digital Content in the form of podcasts for various clients, while Unique Facilities offers in-house and outside broadcast production facilities from its base near Marylebone, London.
2) Digital Division
Unique Interactive produces software including:- ManDLS - a system which updates the text on DAB sets
- EPG - an Electronic Programme Guide for DAB for EPG-capable devices
Profitability
Before the sale of its Networked Programming division, UBC's business model relied heavily on providing content to commercial radio based on so-called “Barter syndication”, effectively giving content to stations in exchange for selling some of their advertising airtime. But as revenues from radio advertising slumps, so did the group's profitability.UBC’s post-tax operating loss for the year (2006–2007) was £1.26 million (compared to £193,000 in 2005-2006).
The company is focussing on reducing costs and increasing profitability by ditching its digital radio stations and concentrating on providing content.