News

Following a successful public consultation and the support of Ofcom, all 19 radio stations using the Winchester Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) network, some broadcasting exclusively on DAB, are available again. Managing director of Outreach Radio, Osman Sen-Chadun, founded a new rescue consortium, including Winchester Radio, Winchester Today, Outreach Radio and Southampton’s Voice FM, to get the Ofcom licences and retrieve the equipment from liquidators. On 8 February, they were back on air. With support and guidance from Ofcom, new plans were agreed and the required public consultation began. During this time, the Winchester DAB team prepared a new transmission site, just 200m away from the original site in Crabwood Farm, in sub-zero temperatures ahead of the launch.

The team behind the recreated LASER558 have obtained a licence to broadcast on DAB digital radio. Whilst a DAB (DSP) licence is available upon application these days, it marks another station using a previously unlicensed brand name and taking it legal. LASER558 will soon be on the relaunched Winchester DAB and the forthcoming Basingstoke DAB multiplexes. Station Director, Steve Bannister, said: “We are very excited to be able to announce that, after forty years of being classed a ‘pirate’ radio station, LASER558 is finally broadcasting legally in the UK and that we’ll be available on DAB Radio.

Members of Wrexham Premier Community Radio say they are "delighted" to announce that it has been granted a Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) licence by Ofcom. Wrexham Premier Radio will go live via the new Wrexham DAB multiplex on 17 February. Since the station's inception during lockdown, Wrexham Premier Community Radio has provided information, companionship, and support to those isolated and in need during challenging times. The station was born out of a necessity to combat loneliness, support mental health and well-being, and ensure that accurate information reaches those most vulnerable in our community.

A WIRRAL Christian and community radio station aims to reach a new audience after launching on a new digital service. Flame CCR, which was established in 2000, already entertains listeners from around the world through its online service and its recently launched app. After acquiring a digital licence to broadcast on the new Liverpool DAB+ in December, programme makers are excited that they can now reach many more people in the region. Station manager, Norman Polden, is very excited about its future. He said: “Now Flame CCR is a lot busier, broadcasting 24/7 from our own studios in via internet www.flameradio.org and the Flame Radio App to the world, and now also on DAB+ to Merseyside, via a transmitter on the St John’s Beacon in Liverpool city centre."

Following 13 years of online streaming, 6 Towns Radio is joining a local small-scale DAB multiplex in the new year. The community station will have a potential audience of 300,000 local people across Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. A station spokesperson said: “We’re all absolutely delighted to be able to announce the news that we’ll be available on DAB, it has been a long time coming and the hard work behind the scenes from all volunteers has meant we have got to this point." The DAB transmission network in Stoke and Newcastle is operated by local non-profit, the Alternative Broadcast Company (ABC).

Fun Coast Digital Director Alistair Clarke MBE takes a look at small-scale DAB can work well for a community. "Fun Coast Digital CIC successfully bid to Ofcom to run the digital radio transmitter in Blackpool, was awarded the licence in May 2022 and three months later on September 1st we put the first few stations live on air. One year on, in-car entertainment screens in Blackpool are bursting with 11 locally-broadcast digital radio stations providing an eclectic mix of chat and music."

A new digital radio network made possible by legislation sponsored by Torbay MP Kevin Foster has launched across Torbay and Teignbridge. TorDab, which is operated by people associated with Devon’s Radio Exe and South Devon Radio – a new station in Torbay – became fully operational this week. TorDab, which has three transmitters across the Torbay and Teignbridge area, means that radio stations linked to the network reach around 210,000 adults. As well as Radio Exe and South Devon Radio, Phonic, and Ocean Youth Radio, which provides opportunities for young people to train in broadcasting, are part of the network, as well as Radio Exe’s non-stop Christmas station Radio ExeMas.

Central FM has switched on the small-scale DAB digital radio multiplex for Stirling and Falkirk. Two radio stations are currently on the platform, including Central FM itself. The only other service at the moment is hospital service Radio Royal but community radio station, Forth Valley Radio, is joining soon. Central FM plans to launch a series of spin-off stations in the year. Alan Edwards, Content Manager for Central FM said: "We are proud to be the Forth Valley’s Number 1 Commercial Radio station and are absolutely delighted to be launching our new multiplex. This is the ideal platform for us to provide a better quality service for our listeners."

Frisk Radio has launched on the newly commissioned Middlesbrough and Redcar small-scale DAB multiplex. Darlington-born DJ, Chris Bell, officially welcomed listeners across Middlesbrough, Stockton, and Redcar at 6pm on Friday 3rd November, with a “Retro Mini-Mix” – a nostalgic homage to a club night well known in the area. The station is now on four local multiplexes across the North East and will soon offer split ads for local businesses.

Hospital service Radio Royal in the Forth Valley has joined a local DAB Digital Radio multiplex. They’re now broadcasting via Central FM’s small-scale DAB service. Chair of Radio Royal Andrew Morley said: “It’s great to get Radio Royal back on the air again, we had many listeners let us know that they missed our broadcasts after our AM service closed when we moved to the Forth Valley Royal Hospital in 2010. “Our unique blend of music and healthcare messaging will now be available to a much wider audience across the Forth Valley and I would like to thank Central FM and NHS Forth Valley for their support in making this launch possible”.