Radio broadcast update – March 2023

• Digital radio
• Analogue commercial radio
• Analogue community radio
• Restricted service licences

Digital radio

Local/national DAB multiplex variations

The following multiplex variations were agreed during this period:

Small-scale DAB multiplex licence awards

The following small-scale radio multiplex licence awards were made during this period:

We have also last month advertised small-scale radio multiplex licences for the South East of England (see Round Five advertisement) and are inviting expressions of interest for the remaining multiplex licence areas that Ofcom has previously identified but not yet advertised.

Grant of small-scale DAB multiplex licences

The following small-scale radio multiplex licences were granted during this period:

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and digital additional sound (DAS) licences issued during this period

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and Digital additional sound (DAS) licences which have ceased to be licensed (handed back or revoked) in this period

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period

Radio licensable content services (RLCS) which have ceased to be licensed in this period

Analogue commercial radio

Analogue station Format changes

Each station has as part of its licence, a ‘Format’ which outlines what the essential nature of the service is and details any specific expectations of that service.

Any changes to a Format can only be made by following the correct procedure and with the appropriate permission from Ofcom.

Bauer AM stations in Scotland: request to change Format (PDF, 397.8 KB)
Published 28 March 2023

Analogue community radio

Community Radio Fund

Ofcom has appointed a Non-Executive Chair, Mark Jones, to the Community Radio Fund Panel. Details of membership and biographies can be found on the Community Radio Fund Panel page.

Ofcom would like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing chair Wendy Pilmer, who joined the Panel in 2012 and was appointed Chair in 2014, for her service and dedication to the sector. We wish Wendy all the best in her future endeavours.

Licence extensions granted in this period

A five year extension has been granted to the following:

Key Commitments changes

Each station has as part of its licence some ‘Key Commitments’, which outline the essential nature of the service and any specific expectations of that service. Licensees can ask Ofcom to approve changes to a station’s Key Commitments. More information, including an application form, is available on our website.

Changes agreed in this period

Canalside Community Radio
Published 3 March 2023

Harborough FM
Published 10 March 2023

Bro Radio
Published 10 March 2023

Ujima Radio
Published 16 March 2023

Erewash Sound
Published 20 March 2023

Digital Hits One
Published 20 March 2023

Coverage improvement and extension requests

Coverage extensions received

In 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

Coverage improvements agreed

In the last month, the services listed below have had their requests for a coverage improvement provisionally agreed, subject to the new technical arrangements going through our usual formal clearance process (this includes Ofcom liaising with a number of outside agencies before changes can be implemented). We have considered the following requests to constitute coverage improvements.

Restricted service licences

Licences issued during in this period