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UlsterMUX has launched a small scale DAB Service across Newry, Armagh, and Down Newry in Northern Ireland using ten transmitters. Operating on DAB Block 9c, UlsterMUX has constructed a network of transmission sites to deliver coverage from Dromore to Banbridge and extending to the City of Newry and beyond to the border at Dundalk. The service will also encompass Castlewellan, Kilkeel, Warrenpoint, Crossmaglen, and Forkhill, making it the largest small scale DAB network in operation across the UK to date. “We are thrilled to bring this innovative DAB service to the region, enhancing radio accessibility and diversity for our communities,” said John Gartlan, CTO of UlsterMUX. “Our extensive network ensures excellent coverage and provides a new platform for stations to connect with audiences in Newry, Armagh, Down, and beyond.”

Walsall community station Ambur Radio is leading an application for the small-scale DAB multiplex in Walsall. Walsall DAB Ltd has been established by Ambur Radio station director Priya Singh with the help of Niocast Digital, West Midlands community radio station WCR fm, and long standing senior radio executive Chris Hurst. The collaboration brings together a unique combination of skills, local knowledge, radio experience and a real passion for Walsall. “Ambur Radio launched in 2009 and has been a very popular multicultural station ever since broadcasting in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Bengali, Gujrati amongst other” says Priya. “And we’ve been planning the move to DAB for some time now. We’re looking forward to the quality that DAB will deliver and being able to reach lots more listeners.”

Hospital station WWL Radio is re-applying for the Wigan small-scale DAB licence. A licence for the town was awarded by Ofcom to Wigan & St Helens Community Media CIC, but was revoked after it failed to launch within 18 months. Now, Wigan DAB, which was the ‘runner up’ for the original licence, is applying again under the consortium made up of Kevin Riley of WWL (previously known as Wrightington Hospital Radio) with the help of Niocast Digital, local broadcasters Darren Ofsarnie and Phil England plus long-standing senior radio executives Chris Hurst and Ron Smith. Kevin Riley, station secretary says: “Small-scale DAB gives us a great opportunity to broadcast to that wider community and develop our service not least in the provision of positive health messaging we already hold the necessary CDSP licence.”

Gaydio has been added to the small-scale DAB multiplex in Liverpool. The station, which is based in Manchester and broadcasts up-beat dance and pop and speech from an LGBTQ+ perspective, can now be heard via DAB+ across the city. To celebrate the launch, Gaydio is partnering with LCR Pride for this year’s celebration of the LGBTQ+ community across the Liverpool City Region. Speaking of the launch, Kriss Herbert-Noble, Network Content Director and mid-morning presenter said: “It’s great Gaydio will be on DAB+ across Liverpool and more queer people can now tune in for the best in LGBTQ+ entertainment, news and of course music. We look forward to doing more with the LGBTQ+ community in Liverpool!”

Eirewave, the Northern Ireland pop and rock radio station, is thrilled to announce the expansion of its broadcasting reach with the launch of a new small-scale DAB service across Newry, Armagh, and Down. Starting on 15 July 2024, listeners from Belfast to Newry and beyond will enjoy uninterrupted Eirewave broadcasts, thanks to a network of 10 transmitters providing exceptional coverage. Olivier Mauxion, owner of Eirewave, expressed his excitement: “This new coverage is a pivotal step for Eirewave as we continue to grow in Northern Ireland. Our enhanced reach on DAB+ will enable more listeners to enjoy our programmes without interruption. We are committed to engaging with all the multiplexes that will open in Northern Ireland in the future.”

Nation Broadcasting has announced it will be applying for four small scale DAB licences in Ofcom’s sixth round of licensing. They will be submitting applications for Ayr, Bournemouth, the Isle of Wight and Sunderland in time for the closing date of 5pm on Thursday 18th July 2024. The Bournemouth application is a venture between local FM broadcaster Nation and newly launched Bournemouth One. Roy Martin, co-founder of Bournemouth One said of the partnership: “Bournemouth One is already attracting a substantial audience online following our launch in January, and we can’t wait to bring this and extra services to DAB in the next year or so.”

In response to huge demand (and a few trolls), Radio Exe has taken advantage of half-Christmas – 25 June – to relaunch Radio ExeMas, non-stop Christmas songs whenever you want them. Radio Exe’s breakfast presenter Matt Rogers, never one to pass up an opportunity to don a Christmas jumper said: “For people who say Christmas seems to start earlier every year, they’re right! “We wanted to be at the top of Santa’s nice list by bringing festive cheer to Devon, and now people can get their fix of Mariah, Wizzard and Wham by tuning to Radio ExeMas. Feliz Navidad!” The festive station is on digital radio across much of Devon on the Exeter, Torbay/Teignbridge and Plymouth areas, as well as being streamed on its own website and on the Radio Exe app.

A new radio station using the name Atlantic 252 is set to launch on DAB. The station has a modern version of the original Atlantic 252 logo and will commence broadcasting at 8am on June 24th, 2024. Whilst the people behind the revival want to remain anonymous, the station voice-over will be Jim Merkel, who was the voice behind the original station. Atlantic 252 won’t be on 252 LW, but in certain areas of the North West on DAB, including Stockport, Bury, Bolton, Tameside, Rochdale and Oldham with plans to expand across the UK and Ireland as the year rolls on.

Cumbria.Digital has announced plans to apply for the small-scale DAB multiplex licence covering Carlisle and Penrith. The company plans to reserve capacity for six community stations, surpassing Ofcom’s minimum requirement of four, to better serve the diverse communities in Carlisle, Penrith, and the surrounding rural areas. “We are looking to provide a platform that gives communities and organizations a voice, opening up the power of radio to all and bringing greater choice to listeners in the area,” said a spokesperson for Cumbria.Digital. “We will support the existing community stations in Carlisle and Penrith, ensuring they have capacity on the multiplex if they wish alongside supporting new stations.”

With changes in audience habits and rising costs and energy bills, what does the future hold for community and local independent radio stations? Madu Ellis, director and acting CEO of Ujima Radio CIC, said their stations had struggled. Ujima Radio was founded in 2008 and was primarily given a licence to provide a platform to empower black people of African and Caribbean communities to become involved with radio. "Our main source of income is advertising. We target small upcoming black businesses. The cost of living - if it impacts them - it no doubt will impact on us," Mr Ellis said. Despite this, Mr Ellis said since their move to Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), their listener figures had increased.