National
The national commercial digital multiplex licence was awarded to the sole applicant, Digital One, in October 1998. It commenced broadcasting in November 1999. Some of the capacity on the multiplex may be used for data services. The ten* programme services provided on the national multiplex are as follows: Classic FM (classical), Virgin Radio (rock), talkSPORT (speech), Classic Gold Rock (classic rock), Core (teen and chart hits), Life (adult contemporary), Oneword (plays, books, comedy and reviews), Primetime Radio (music and features for older listeners), *PLUS money channel (provider to be appointed), rolling news channel (provider to be appointed).
Digital Radio Coverage Map (DAB Primary Protected Areas)
Local
The advertisement of local digital multiplex licences got under way in November 1998 following the award of the national multiplex licence (see above). The licences awarded so far are as follows:
| Area | Licensee | Date awarded |
| Birmingham |
CE Digital | May 1999 |
| Manchester | CE Digital | June 1999 |
| Greater London I | CE Digital | September 1999 |
| Glasgow | SCORE Digital | September 1999 |
| South Yorkshire | Emap Digital | September 1999 |
| Tyne & Wear | Emap Digital | October 1999 |
| Cardiff/Newport | Capital Radio Digital | November 1999 |
| Wolverhampton | Now Digital | December 1999 |
| Liverpool | Emap Digital | February 2000 |
| Edinburgh | SCORE Digital | March 2000 |
| Greater
London II |
Switch Digital | April 2000 |
| Leeds | Emap Digital | April 2000 |
| Teesside |
Emap Digital | May 2000 |
| Bristol/Bath | Now Digital | June 2000 |
| Coventry | Now Digital | July 2000 |
| Central Lancashire | Emap Digital | September 2000 |
| Northern Ireland | SCORE Digital | October 2000 |
| Central Scotland | Switch Digital | October 2000 |
| Humberside |
Emap Digital | December 2000 |
| North-East England | MXR Ltd. | December 2000 |
| South Wales/Severn Estuary | MXR Ltd | January 2001 |
| West Midlands | MXR Ltd | February 2001 |
| North-West England | MXR Ltd. | March 2001 |
| Aberdeen | Switch Digital | April 2001 |
| Southend & Chelmsford | Now Digital | May 2001 |
| Greater London III | The Digital Radio Group (London) Ltd. | June 2001 |
| Bournemouth | Now Digital | July 2001 |
| Ayr | SCORE Digital | July 2001 |
| Dundee & Perth | SCORE Digital | September 2001 |
| Exeter & Torbay | Now Digital | October 2001 |
| Bradford & Huddersfield | TWG Digital | October 2001 |
| Peterborough | Now Digital | November 2001 |
| Inverness | SCORE Digital | December 2001 |
| Leicester | Now Digital | February 2002 |
| Swindon/West Wiltshire | Now Digital | March 2002 |
| South Hampshire | Capital Radio Digital | May 2002 |
| Norwich | Now Digital | September 2002 |
| Yorkshire | MXR Ltd. | November 2002 |
| Swansea | TWG Emap Digital | December 2002 |
| Sussex Coast | Capital Radio Digital | January 2003 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | TWG Emap Digital | February 2003 |
| Kent | Capital Radio Digital | April 2003 |
| Nottingham | Now Digital | May 2003 |
| Reading & Basingstoke | Now Digital | June 2003 |
| Cambridge | Now Digital | October 2003 |
| Plymouth/Cornwall | Southwest Digital Radio Ltd | November 2003 |
Pattern of Development
The Authority has concentrated, in the early years of digital radio development, on the main population centres within the UK. Reflecting the consensus of responses to its consultative exercise, the Authority aimed, during this period, to facilitate the establishment of up to two local/regional multiplexes (in addition to BBC and commercial national multiplexes) in each of these areas but, apart from in Greater London, not to go beyond this density of provision for the foreseeable future.
Digital Radio Fact Sheet gives background information about digital radio.
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Revised: 21/11/02 10:33:58