BBC National Digital Radio Coverage Improves In Four Areas
11.03.2014
- British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
WorldDAB Member
- United Kingdom 
The next phase of the BBC’s digital radio network expansion plan will bring a further 2 million people into the coverage area with an additional 162 transmitters. This will extend and improve coverage of the BBC’s national radio stations on DAB from 93% to 97% of the UK population by the end of 2015.
The latest transmitters to launch will bring improved digital radio reception to Weston-super-Mare, Stow-on-the-Wold, Leamington Spa, and Penicuik in Scotland.
These transmitters add over 10,000 new households to the BBC’s national coverage area and improves digital radio reception for a further 170,000 households.
Digital radio listeners can tune into the BBC’s portfolio of digital only stations including 1Xtra, 5 live sports extra, 6 Music, Radio 4 Extra and the Asian Network as well as the BBC’s existing national radio stations - Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, Radio 5 live and the World Service – and enjoy the benefits of digital radio with more choice and improved sound quality.
“The BBC has been committed to digital radio since its launch and we are delighted to announce the start of our next phase of coverage giving listeners the opportunity to enjoy improved coverage”, says Alix Pryde, the BBC’s Director of Distribution.
Listeners are advised to check their coverage at bbc.co.uk/digitalradio. A full list of transmitters rolled-out so far as part of this phase of BBC digital radio expansion can also be found here.
DAB digital radio brings the listener more choice, improved sound quality, no re-tuning and extra information on broadcasts. To receive the BBC's digital radio services, listeners will need a DAB digital radio and have to live within the DAB coverage area.
1st March 2014
Notes to editors
- The BBC has five digital-only radio networks:
- 1Xtra – the best in new black music,
- 5 live sports extra – the home of live sport with exclusive coverage of live events,
- 6 Music – the best of contemporary and classic rock and pop,
- Radio 4 Extra - the best of BBC comedy, drama and books from the archive,
- Asian Network – news and music from the British Asian scene.
- Listeners can also receive Radios 1 to 5 live on digital radio
- The BBC’s national DAB coverage currently stands at 93% of theUK population.
- Around 25million adults are listening to the BBC’s new digital-only stations each week (RAJAR).
- There are now 18.6 million digital radios in the UK (GFK).
- Digital radio offers improved reception and does not suffer from the interference and fading that can happen with AM and FM radio.
- Digital radio is a more efficient means of broadcasting. More networks can be transmitted, offering more choice for listeners.
- Digital radio can transmit text and data with the audio signal. A small screen on digital radios carries rolling text telling listeners what music they’re listening to, who’s being interviewed, and giving phone numbers and e-mail and website addresses.
- Digital radios are available from all major retail outlets across the UK
- Digital radio can also be received via digital television (satellite, cable and Freeview) and the Internet.
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BBC DAB Phase 4 by area, number of transmitters in parentheses, including principal towns/villages
City-centre boosts
Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Coventry, Glasgow, Leicester, Lincoln, Liverpool, Oxford and Plymouth
England
Berkshire (2) – Wokingham, Maidenhead
Buckinghamshire (3) – Chesham, Aylesbury, High Wycombe
Cambridgeshire (1) – Wisbech
Cornwall (2) – St Just, St Erth
County Durham (1) – Weardale Valley
Cumbria (1) – Barrow-in-Furness
Derbyshire (6) – Ashbourne, Glossop, Chapel-en-le-Frith
Devon (10) – Ashburton, Bampton, Beer, Brixham, Dartmouth
Dorset (3) – Lyme Regis, Blandford Forum
Essex (2) – Braintree, Harlow
Gloucestershire (2)
Hampshire (4)
Hertfordshire (2) – Letchworth, Stevenage
Isle of Wight (1) – Ventnor
Kent (4) – Folkestone, Faversham, Dover, Deal
Lancashire (5) – Darwen, Blackpool, Whalley, Whitworth
Lincolnshire (7) – Boston, Bourne, Grantham, Scunthorpe, Skegness
Norfolk (11) – Brandon, Fakenham, Downham Market, Kings Lynn, Wells-next-the-Sea
North Yorkshire (3) – Harrogate, Pateley Bridge, Skipton
Northampton (1)
Northumberland (3) – Haydon Bridge, Hexham, Alnmouth, Alnwick
Oxfordshire (1) – Banbury
Redcar and Cleveland (1) – Skinningrove
Shropshire (4) – Bishop’s Castle, Church Stretton, Ludlow, Oswestry
Somerset (2) – Chard, Weston-super-Mare
South Yorkshire (1) – Stocksbridge
Suffolk (7) – Southwold, Bungay, Felixstowe, Sudbury, Ipswich
Surrey (4) – Caterham, Haslemere, Dorking, Leatherhead
West Sussex (3) – Crawley, East Grinstead
East Sussex (2) – Rye, Eastbourne
Teeside (1) – Barnard Castle
West Yorkshire (4) – Hebden Bridge, Calder Valley
Worcestershire (1)
Scotland
Aberdeenshire (3)
Argyll and Bute (2), including Islay
Borders (3) – Innerleithen, Jedburgh, Peebles
Dumfries and Galloway (4) – Kirkconnel, Langholm, Moffat, Thornhill
Ross-shire and the isles (1)
Isle of Skye (1)
Perthshire (1) – Montrose
South Ayrshire (2)
South Lanarkshire (1)
Wales
Bridgend (1)
Camarthenshire (1) – Kidwelly
Ceredigion (2) – Lampeter, Newcastle Emlyn
Conwy (1)
North Anglesey (1)
Flintshire (1)
Neath Port Talbot (1)
North Wales (5) – Deiniolen, Dolgellau, Cefn Mawr, Wrexham
Pembrokeshire (2) – Haverfordwest, Tenby
Powys (4) – Brecon, Hay-on-Wye, Llanidloes, Machynlleth
South Wales (1) – Aberdare
Swansea (1)
Northern Ireland
Ballycastle (1)
Bangor (1)
Newtownards (1)
Channel Islands
Guernsey (1)
Isle of Man
Ramsey (1)
Port St Mary (1)