Radio Broadcast Update – May 2025

TV, radio and on-demand Analogue radio Community radio Coverage and transmitters Licence information Radio broadcasting updates
Published: 6 June 2025

A round-up of Ofcom’s broadcast radio licensing activity in May 2025.

Digital Radio

Radio multiplex licence renewals

The following radio multiplex licences have been granted a renewal during this period:

Multiplex Licensee New expiry date
Mid and West Wales MuxCo Wales Limited 31 December 2030
Derbyshire Now Digital (East Midlands) Limited 31 December 2030
Ayr Now Digital Limited 31 December 2030
Bournemouth Now Digital Limited 31 December 2030
Essex Now Digital Limited 31 December 2030

Small-scale DAB multiplex licence awards

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

Licence area Successful applicant company
Huntingdon Huntingdon Digital Limited
Nuneaton & Hinckley  Maxxwave Limited
Walsall Walsall DAB Limited
Wetherby Wetherby Community Radio Limited
Yeovil Radio Ninesprings

Note that we also announced during May the multiplex licence areas that Ofcom plans to advertise in Round Eight of small-scale DAB licensing later this year.

Grant of small-scale DAB multiplex licences

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

Licence area Licensee Transmitters licenced Date from
Portsmouth Angel Radio Limited Fort Widley 29 May 2025

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

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS)
Radio Burnley Ltd Radio Burnley DSPS (local)
James Clark Cinque Ports Radio DSPS (local)

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 Licence type (DSPS or DAS) Reason
River Radio Ltd River Radio DSPS Rescinded
UKMusicGroup Ltd UNITY DAB DSPS Revoked
Big Beat Brighton Big Beat Brighton DSPS Surrendered

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

Licensee Service name Area
Victory Radio Limited Victory Radio Portsmouth
Broadcasting Initiative Northern Development CIC Nova Radio Newcastle and Gateshead
Radio Northumberland Radio Northumberland Alnwick and Morpeth 
Bolton FM Community Interest Company Radio Bury Bolton and Bury
Johnstone Sound Ltd Johnstone Sound Community Radio Paisley and West Glasgow

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

Licensee Service name Area
Cultural Media Enterprise Unity 101 Community Radio Southampton
Advance Learning Partnership ALP Radio Durham

Analogue Community Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A five-year renewal has been granted to the following:

Service name Licensee Location New expiry date
MKFM MKFM Limited Milton Keynes 6 September 2030

Following three previous consecutive five-year extensions, a ten-year extension has been granted to the following:

Service name Licensee Location New expiry date
Unity 101 Community Radio Cultural Media Enterprise Southampton 7 December 2030

Restricted Service Licences

Licences issued during this period

Licensee Service Name
Tony O'Neil Radio Mi Amigo
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