News

Ofcom has awarded 25 small-scale DAB radio multiplex licences in London and the South East, meaning nearly 11 million listeners from Harlow to Hastings will soon be able to tune into a wider choice of ultra-local digital radio stations. Each multiplex will allow several local stations to take to the digital airwaves, including grass-roots community services, specialist music stations, and services aimed at minority groups and other under-served audiences. The roll-out of small-scale DAB has already enabled the launch of multiplexes across all four UK nations. Today's awards bring the number of multiplex licences awarded so far to 112 (excluding re-awards), with 58 of those already broadcasting.

The Office of Electronic Communications has published a new list of DAB+ broadcasting permits. Over the past month, it has extended the permissions for the experimental multiplexes DABCOM, PSN Infrastruktura and Radio Express FM by one year. Information from Wirtualnemedia.pl shows that similar permits for BCAST should soon be added to the list.

Arcom has recently published its “White Paper of the future of radio”. In this blog post, WorldDAB's Programme Manager in France, Jean-Marc Dubreuil looks at the country's radio sector, and the regulator's plan for digitisation. “The idea is to ensure the sustainability of the radio landscape in France, its plurality, its diversity, its place for the society, more choices and a better radio experience for the listeners. With DAB+ at its heart,” he says.

Drivers can now spend the entire journey from Prague to České Budějovice on the D3 motorway listening to the digital radio broadcast of the COLOR DAB+ network operated by Joe Media. The operator has increased the power of the transmitter in České Budějovice. The Budějovice transmitter of the COLOR DAB+ multiplex was the first ever transmitter launched under the frequencies allocated in the auction of the Czech Telecommunications Office (CTU) at the beginning of this year. Joe Media launched it on technology it dismantled from the original old Prague transmitter at Strahov. In mid-May, it started test broadcasts with 200 W instead of the planned 2 kW. This changed at the end of last week. "We have made the wiring modifications necessary to increase the power at the DAB+ transmitter in České Budějovice and at the same time increased the power to about 500 W. We will make another increase soon," the operator announced via social media.

Cumbria.Digital has submitted an application to Ofcom to establish a small-scale DAB multiplex for Carlisle, Penrith, and surrounding areas. If approved, Cumbria.Digital says it aims to have the platform operational by early 2025, using two transmission sites in Carlisle and Penrith. Cumbria.Digital has committed to reserving capacity for up to six community services, exceeding the minimum requirement ofcom required of four. Jonathan Davies, Director of Cumbria.Digital, expressed gratitude for the support received from local organisations: “I would personally like to thank Eden FM, Cumberland Radio, Love Carlisle, and Penrith Town for their support. This has been a five-year journey for us, awaiting legislative and regulatory developments to catch-up with our plans. With Ofcom’s approval, Cumbria.Digital aims to unlock the potential of local digital radio capabilities to match other parts of the UK and also put us at the forefront of what DAB can do.”

The biggest fair in the Benelux region can again be followed extensively via radio, online and TV on Kermis FM. From 19 to 28 July, the broadcasts can be followed nationwide on DAB+ digital radio, online and in Tilburg via 105.9 FM. The Tilburg Fair is more than just a fair. It is a big festival with a Silent Disco Festival, hip-hop festival Het Moment, Holy Pink, the first Tilburg edition of Glitterbox in the Spoorzone and, of course, Pink Monday. ‘The fair is a big festival site and that only makes it nicer to report live,’ says Arno Leblanc, editor-in-chief of Kermis FM. ‘And, of course, we ourselves will be there as an attraction in front of the church on the Hill. Anyone can come and do a shout-out to family or friends or request a record.’ The jam-packed programming features many well-known names who could be heard at Kermis FM at the beginning of their media careers.

The Government of the Balearic Islands will implement, through DAB+ technology, IB3's digital radio in the first quarter of 2025. This was announced on 18 July by the director general of Digital Strategy and Administrative Simplification, Xisco Cànovas.‘We are pleased to see that we are the first autonomous community in which all three RTVE radio coverage (local, regional and national) will be offered with DAB+ digital technology,’ he said. The general director of IB3, Albert Salas, added: ‘The announcement by the Government of the Balearic Islands to launch DAB+ broadcasts on IB3 Ràdio is part of the digital strategy of the regional government. The digitisation of public radio and television in the Balearic Islands is a fundamental part of our project. DAB+ will allow us to improve the quality of transmission and coverage and will put us in a leading position in the national radio market.

Community station Corby Radio has announced plans to apply for the small-scale DAB digital radio multiplex for Corby and Kettering. The area is part of Round 6, which has a closing date of July 18. Des Barber, Founder and Station Manager of Corby Radio said: “From my days on AM with KCBC, I’ve seen progress to FM, and now to digital technologies. Corby Radio has always harnessed these developments for the enrichment of our community. It is hoped that the result of the application will be known by the end of the year and the service will go on-air in 2025.”

YourFM has confirmed it will be applying for the Portadown & Craigavon small-scale DAB multiplex licence. The community radio station has been broadcasting on FM since June 2015 and now says it wants to expand onto DAB. It has partnered with a neighbouring community radio station in Newry to create a not-for-profit multiplex offering low-cost carriage and free carriage for the four C-DSP services it would host. Director Niall O Corrain said: “We have brought in experienced people with a proven track record in delivering SSDAB projects in Northern Ireland to ensure the multiplexes success.” ABC Community SSDAB has ambitious plans to launch as early as six months if it is awarded the licence due to the preparations made in the last three months.

Two groups have announced plans today to apply for the upcoming Poole, Purbeck and Wimborne small-scale DAB multiplex licence in Dorset. Poole based telecommunications company, Wide FM, has teamed up with Poole’s Hot Radio and Bournemouth’s Hope FM to create a bid, who together are also applying for the nearby Bournemouth and Boscombe licence. In addition, P&P Digital Media describe themselves as a team of committed broadcast professionals, many of whom are based in the local area. P&P Digital Media’s Operations Director is Paul Sutton, who says DAB listening is higher than FM so now is a great time for the application, which is supported by local and regional stations including Radio Wimborne.