Radio broadcast update March 2022
Digital radio
Local/national DAB multiplex variations
The following multiplex variations were agreed during this period:
| Change | Multiplex |
|---|---|
Addition of Great British Radio - Celebrating British voices, thoughts, lives and music. | Herts, Beds & Bucks |
Removal of Scottish Sun Hits - A music station playing the biggest current songs and a selection of fresh new music. Removal of Scottish Sun Chilled - A music station playing the greatest hits of all time. Removal of Scottish Sun 80s - A music station playing the most popular songs from the 1980s. | Central Scotland |
Addition of Breezy Radio - A simulcast of licence number AL102405. (‘A local speech and broad music station for the Swansea area aimed at the 35+ age group, regularly reflecting Welsh culture and language’). | North East Wales & West Cheshire South East Wales |
Removal of Nation Radio UK - A music station playing current and classic hits. | North East Wales & West Cheshire |
Addition of River Radio – ‘The Voice of Thames Valley' is a digital radio station to educate, entertain and engage with listeners from Reading to Windsor. | Berkshire & North Hampshire |
Removal of Polish Radio Full FM - A radio station playing music and news for the Polish community. | Surrey |
Small-scale DAB: extension of trial multiplexes
Trial licence area | New expiry date |
|---|---|
| Norwich | 30 June 2022 |
This short extension to the Norwich trial licence has been granted by Ofcom in order to provide continuity for programme service providers and their listeners following Ofcom’s recent award of a seven-year small scale radio multiplex licence for this area, which is required to launch within 18 months of licence award.
Digital sound programme service (DSP) and Digital additional sound (DAS) licences which have ceased to be licensed (handed back or revoked) in this period
Licensee | Service name |
|---|---|
| A Spokesman Said Limited | Love Talk |
| A Spokesman Said Limited | Love Sport Radio |
Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period
Licensee | Service name |
|---|---|
| Radio Tyneside | Radio Tyneside (Tynemouth and South Shields) |
| Rutland and Stamford Sound CIC | Rutland and Stamford Sound |
| Community Broadcast Initiative Tyneside Ltd | Nova Radio North East |
| Leicester Community Radio 2 Broadcasting CIC | LCR2 |
| Leicester Community Radio Broadcasting CIC | LCR1 |
| Pride Community Network Ltd | Pride Radio |
| Kohinoor Media Ltd | Kohinoor FM |
| Radio Lisburn Live CIC | Radio Lisburn Live |
Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period
Licensee | Service name |
|---|---|
| South Norfolk Radio CIC | South Norfolk Radio |
| All Things Blackburn Radio Ltd | All Things Blackburn Radio |
| Radio Tyneside | Radio Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead) |
Analogue commercial radio
Licence renewals granted in this period
A seven-year renewal has been granted to the following:
Area | Service name | Current Licensee |
|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | Pirate FM | Bauer Radio Limited |
| Aberdeen | Northsound 1 | Bauer Radio Limited |
| Leeds | Greatest Hits Radio | Bauer Radio Limited |
| Severn Estuary | KISS | Bauer Radio Limited |
Analogue community radio
Licences issued in this period
Service Name | Licensee | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Alfred | This is Alfred Limited | Shaftsbury |
| Embrace | Creativity Media Services (Northampton) Ltd | Northampton |
Licence extensions granted in this period
A five year extension has been granted to the following:
Service name | Licensee | Location | New expiry date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peterborough Community Radio | Peterborough Community Radio Ltd | Peterborough | 13 April 2027 |
| Wey Valley Radio | Wey Valley Radio (Alton) Ltd | Alton, Hampshire | 21 June 2027 |
| 1BTN | Alias Music and Community Projects CIC | Brighton and Hove | 13 April 2027 |
| Radio Verulam | Verulam Community Radio Ltd | St Albans | 6 July 2027 |
| Harbour Radio | Harbour Radio CIC | Great Yarmouth | 29 August 2027 |
Key Commitments changes
Each station has as part of its licence, ‘Key Commitments’ which outline what the essential nature of the service is and details any specific expectations of that service. Licensees may request changes to a station’s Key Commitments. Information about the process, as well as an application form, are on our website here.
Changes to Key Commitments agreed in this period:
Cinque Ports Radio (Romney Marsh)
Published 1 April 2022
Coverage improvement and extension requests
Coverage extensions received:
During the last month the services listed below have requested an extension to their licence area. The application(s) are published on the community radio page of our website. Ofcom will accept representations up to one month following publication before we make a formal decision. Representations can be sent to broadcast.licensing@ofcom.org.uk
Service name | Location |
|---|---|
| 106.9 SFM | Sittingbourne |
Please note:
The success of an application is, amongst other things, dependent on frequency availability and whether there may be an increase in harmful outgoing interference to other stations. In every case we need to take account of other services (community, commercial and BBC) on the same frequency or an adjacent one to yours (or to a frequency that we may be considering for a relay). Please see the guidance document (PDF, 259.6 KB) for further information.