Listeners in Portsmouth can now listen to JACK, JACK2 and RedTrain Express on their digital radios.
JACK and JACK2 can already be heard in other parts of the UK, having launched in Oxford in 2007 and 2013 respectively. The JACK stations are known for ‘playing what we want’ and having no live presenters after the breakfast show, although regular news bulletins and ‘Jacktivities’ updates are broadcast. JACK2’s playlist can be controlled by voting for songs on its website.
RedTrain Express started as an online radio stream at thejazz.co.uk and is now available on DAB digital radio in Portsmouth. The station plays predominantly 21st Century jazz and offers programmes which are dedicated to jazz fusion.
The stations join eight others which have recently been made available in Portsmouth, including Chris Country, community radio station Express FM, 100% Hits Triple and Mango Vibe.
Trials are taking place in ten areas including Portsmouth, Manchester, Cambridge, Norwich and Birmingham to evaluate small scale digital radio transmitters. The media regulator Ofcom will report next year on the trial.