Nearly 11 million listeners in London and the South East will soon be able to tune into more digital radio stations.
Media regulator Ofcom has awarded the licences to operate 25 small-scale DAB multiplexes in the ’round five’ areas. While the previous round saw multiplex licences awarded in all four nations of the UK, the fifth round concentrated on areas in London and the South East.
A digital radio multiplex contains several digital radio stations. A listener might receive DAB radio stations from national multiplexes, such as those that carry BBC Radio 4 or Classic FM, and local multiplexes, which carry a local BBC radio station and stations like Heart or Hits Radio. In areas with small-scale DAB multiplexes listeners can access stations broadcasting specific genres of music or dedicated to football, for example.
Today’s awards by Ofcom bring the total number of multiplex licences awarded to 112 (excluding re-awards). The regulator says on average each multiplex is currently broadcasting 11 radio stations. Ofcom says it expects to make further awards in the 31 areas advertised in round six of the roll-out in the coming months.
Multiplex licensees are responsible for setting up the transmitters and operating the multiplex itself. Radio stations that operate independently, such as small commercial stations or community and hospital stations, can apply for a digital licence and join one or more multiplexes.
Successful applicants have 18 months from the award to put their plans into action and launch their small-scale DAB multiplex.
These include five areas of London, as well as localities like Ashford & Dungeness, Canterbury, Harlow and Portsmouth.
The full list of areas and the applicants awarded in round five is:
- Alton, Petersfield & Haslemere – Provincial DAB Ltd
- Ashford & Dungeness – Ashford DAB Ltd
- Brighton – Brighton & Hove Digital Radio CIC
- Canterbury – Canterbury DAB Ltd
- Chelmsford – Chelmsford Digital Radio Ltd
- Colchester & Clacton – Essex DAB Ltd
- Eastbourne, Lewes and Newhaven – East Sussex Digital Radio Ltd
- Guildford & Woking – Muxcast 5 Ltd
- Harlow – Xtra DAB Ltd
- Hastings – Hastings Digital Radio CIC
- Haywards Heath & Uckfield – Central Sussex Digital Radio Ltd
- Luton – University of Bedfordshire
- Maidstone, Tunbridge & Tonbridge – West Kent Digital Ltd
- Margate, Dover & Folkestone – Kent Coast DAB Ltd
- North East London and South West Essex – East London and Essex Digital CIC
- North London – U.DAB Ltd
- Portsmouth – Angel DAB Ltd
- Reading – Local Radio Ltd
- Sittingbourne & Medway Towns – Medway Swale DAB Ltd
- South East London & North West Kent – GreenDAB Ltd
- South Hertfordshire – South Herts DAB Ltd
- South London – South of the River Digital Radio Ltd
- South West Sussex – Digital Radio West Sussex Ltd
- Southend – City DAB Ltd
- West London – City West Digital CIC
Additionally, awards have been made for three areas which had been re-advertised. These are Alnwick & Morpeth, Isles of Scilly and Merthyr & Rhondda Cynon Taf.