News

The South Durham small-scale DAB multiplex has launched with seven digital stations broadcasting to Darlington, Bishop Auckland and Newton Aycliffe. Alpha Radio, Aycliffe Radio, Dance Revolution, Durham OnAir, Frisk Radio, Prince Bishops Hospital Radio and Sun FM are all based in the northeast. Bishop FM will follow at a later date. Local community broadcasters worked with specialists in the field to launch Durham Digital which is running the transmitters. Gary Burgham, Programme Director at Bishop FM said: “I’m thrilled to be part of a great team presenting the opportunity to bring a community-based DAB service to Bishop Auckland, Aycliffe and my hometown of Darlington.”

UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, the Rt Honourable Lucy Frazer MP has visited Cheshire’s MIX 56 ahead of its launch on DAB later this month. Lucy was joined by Warrington South MP Andy Carter. Cheshire’s MIX 56 is launching later this month on the new Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn small-scale digital multiplex and has also signed up for East Cheshire and Stockport. Andy Carter, Warrington South MP said: “The government have played a big part in extending DAB to small communities, it’s the future of radio so more listeners have access to digital radio services. We wish Cheshire’s MIX 56 the best of luck with the switch on later this month.”

A local Derby radio station has made the jump from online to radio broadcasting as part of a boost for the city's radio stations. The people of Derby will soon be able to tune in to a wider range of radio stations via their DAB (digital audio broadcasting) radios thanks to a new plan bringing dedicated coverage for the city. The new DAB network will carry up to 30 new radio services, including Derby Sound, that will be heard right across the city. Derby DAB will reserve space for not-for-profit stations at a discounted rate.

The final two locations from Round 4 of the small-scale DAB licence roll-out have been awarded by Ofcom. Both areas, one for East Fife, and one for Berwickshire and North Roxburgh, have been awarded to Lanarkshire based C.I. Broadcasting Ltd and its subsidiary company Tower DAB Ltd. C.I. Broadcasting’s Director Spencer Pryor told Radio Today: “We’re extremely pleased that OFCOM have decided to award these licences to us to give us the opportunity to increase DAB coverage in two very underserved areas."

Ofcom will announce which areas will form part of Round 6 in the small-scale DAB licensing process this autumn following feedback from potential applicants. After a recent call for expressions of interest, input from stakeholders was received in 65 locations. Ofcom also received requests from stakeholders to re-advertise four areas for which no applications were submitted when originally advertised. Requests for new small-scale DAB areas for the Scottish Highlands and for the Orkney Islands were also received, along with a small number of other requests to add areas to the small-scale DAB advertising programme.

There are 34 applications for Round 5 of Ofcom’s small-scale DAB radio multiplex licence process, plus three for re-advertised areas. Of the total 37 areas, only six received more than one application. They are West London, South West Sussex, South London, South Hertfordshire, North London and North East London/South West Essex. From the six with multiple, there are three applications for South London and three for North London, whilst the others have two each.

Ofcom has published several updates on its work to support the launch of a wider range of ultra-local digital radio stations across the UK. So far, Ofcom has made 86 licence awards. From Edinburgh to Exeter, some 30 multiplexes are now on the air, between them transmitting 213 different stations, the majority of which are new to broadcast radio. Ofcom's fifth round of small-scale DAB licensing covers the South East of England. It received 34 applications for the 32 small-scale DAB radio multiplex licence areas, which were advertised in March. All applications will now be assessed against the specific statutory criteria, and it expects to announce the successful applicants next year.

WorldDAB has commissioned an independent report on the development and implementation of small-scale DAB in markets around the world. The report, by Dr Lawrie Hallett of the University of Bedfordshire, seeks to document for the first time the global development of this innovative approach to DAB transmission, and to analyse the different current implementations, including technical, financial and regulatory models. It may also offer for consideration possible next steps to support its continued growth. The project framework document is designed to set out the initial approach to the topics to be covered by the report, and a timeline for delivery.

Chelmsford Digital Radio has been established to apply for the upcoming small-scale DAB multiplex for the area. The application is being managed by Martin Steers from Steers Media, along with Dean Kavanagh and with the support of Chelmsford Community Radio. Martin said: “It’s great that the area has the opportunity to have its own local DAB, and I’m really excited to hear new and existing stations start broadcasting across the area.”

Middlesex DAB Ltd has announced plans to apply for the West London DAB multiplex. The company is a venture between Nation Broadcasting, the UK’s leading independent radio group and the leading London based Asian commercial radio groups – Lyca Media (Lyca Radio & Lyca Gold Radio), Sunrise Radio and Panjab Radio. Also on the team are Subdigital and local community radio service The Beat. Surjit Singh ​Ghuman MBE, founder of Hayes-based Panjab Radio said, “Since the year 2000 we have been at the heart of the West London community. I have backed DAB for over twenty years and have seen the positive impact it can have to broaden choice and bring new listeners to radio in general. I look forward to bringing not only more choice to listeners, but an affordable DAB multiplex for smaller and non-profit broadcasters.”​