Statement: Digital radio multiplex information requirements

The Media Act 2024 has placed a new duty on Ofcom to require multiplex operators to publish information about the payments radio stations can expect to make for carriage on their multiplex. 

Digital radio multiplexes have an important role to play in the radio sector. Commercial radio stations rely on multiplexes to enable radio content that is broadcast using Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) technologies to reach radio listeners around the UK. Ofcom licenses the provision of local, national and small-scale multiplexes in the UK.

The Media Act added a new section 54(1)(i) to the 1996 Broadcasting Act requiring Ofcom to include such conditions as appear to it appropriate in the licences of local and national licensed multiplex operators to secure that: 

“the holder of the licence publishes information, in such manner as Ofcom consider appropriate, as to the payments to be made by the holders of community, local and national digital sound programme licences for the broadcasting of their services under the licence”.  

This requirement provides radio stations with greater transparency on carriage fees when negotiating access to a particular multiplex. The Act granted Ofcom flexibility to determine the precise wording of the licence condition and therefore the publication requirement, including the manner of publication. The wording of this requirement closely aligns with duties already imposed on Ofcom in relation to Small Scale (“SSDAB”) multiplex licences.

This statement sets out the condition we have decided to apply to multiplex operators, requiring them to publish up to date ‘rate cards’ about the charges to radio stations seeking carriage on the multiplex. Individual local and national multiplex licensees will be contacted about their individual licence variations in accordance with sections 42(3) and (3B) of the 1996 Broadcasting Act.