GCap Media is planning to switch off the analogue AM transmitters for its radio stations still broadcasting on the AM frequency, such as Capital Gold in London , to encourage more listeners to switch to digital. This could come as early as the spring of 2007.

This move is being planned as the company prepares to sue Ofcom for releasing new digital radio bandwidth to compete with GCAP’s current national multiplex, which GCAP claims was supposed to be exclusive.

GCap operates the only commercial digital radio platform, Digital One, which has access to the only existing national multiplex. GCap claims that the predecessor to Ofcom, the Radio Authority, promised Digital One in 1998 that it would have the “one and only” national multiplex.

GCap, which has hired lawyers to prepare its case, does not have a formal contract to prove this, but points to press releases and ministers’ statements at the time to support its case.