Arqiva is inviting bids for an additional digital terrestrial television channel on one of its DTT multiplexes. The new channel is being made available from January 2009 as a result of improvements in compression technology.
The transmission company is inviting proposals by October 22. An award is due to be made before the end of the year.
Arqiva holds the licences for Multiplexes C and D. It follows the company takeover of National Grid Wireless that was given approval last month. The capacity is largely used by free-to-air channels that broadcast as part of the Freeview platform.
Previous capacity auctions have seen capacity sold at an annual rate of £12 million.
In August the ITV-owned multiplex operator SDN advertised a new videostream that will also come available during 2009.
