Radio broadcast update – June 2023

Cyhoeddwyd: 6 Mawrth 2024

A round-up of Ofcom’s broadcast radio licensing activity in June 2023

Digital radio

Local/national DAB multiplex variations

The following multiplex variations were agreed during this period:

ChangeMultiplex

Removal of Sandgrounder - A service focused on Southport, Sefton and the Liverpool city region playing a variety of music from the past six decades with local news and information

North East Wales & West Cheshire

Radio multiplex licence renewals

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

MultiplexLicensee New expiry date
Nottingham Now Digital (East Midlands) 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

Bath & Midsomer Norton

Bath Digital Radio CIC (PDF, 172.6 KB)

Boston, Spalding & Skegness

East Lincolnshire Broadcasting CIC (PDF, 171.1 KB)

Derby

Derby DAB Limited (PDF, 168.2 KB)

Grant of small-scale DAB multiplex licences

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

Licence areaLicensee Transmitters licensed Date from

Manchester

Manchester DAB CIC

Manchester – Bickerdale Court

Manchester – Somerton Court

05 June 2023

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

Licensee Service name

Creativity Media Services (Northampton) Ltd

Embrace

Kooky Inc. Ltd.

Buzz MCR

The Greek Voice of London CIC

MGR (My Greek Radio)

North Derbyshire Radio Ltd

North Derbyshire Radio

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and Digital additional sound (DAS) licences transferred during in this period

Service name Previous licensee New licensee

Totally Radio

Festival Productions Limited

Platform B Ltd

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

Licensee Service nameArea

High Peak One Radio CIC

High Peak 1

Buxton & Glossop

North Manchester FM CIC

North Manchester FM

Manchester

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

Licensee Service nameArea

Sound Communities CIC

Ocean Youth Radio

Torbay

St Mathews Community Solution Centre Ltd

EAVA FM

Leicester

Gateway Community Media CIC

Gateway

North East London & South West Essex

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) which have ceased to be licensed in this period

Licensee Service nameReason

Stockbridge & North Edinburgh CIC

Mix1 Surrender

Analogue Commercial Radio

Analogue commercial radio licences which have ceased to be licensed  in this period

Licensee Service nameReason

Sunrise Smooth Ltd

Jeo Radio

Surrender

Global Radio (AM) Ltd

Gold Northampton

Surrender

Global Radio (AM) Ltd

Gold Cambridge

Surrender

Global Radio (AM) Ltd

Gold Derby

Surrender

Global Radio (AM) Ltd

Gold Nottingham

Surrender

Global Radio (AM) Ltd

Smooth Dorset

Surrender

Global Radio (AM) Ltd

Smooth Gloucestershire

Surrender

Global Radio (AM) Ltd

Smooth Wiltshire

Surrender

Global Radio (AM) Ltd

Smooth Suffolk

Surrender

Global Radio (AM) Ltd

Smooth Norfolk

Surrender

Global Radio (AM) Ltd

Smooth Essex

Surrender

Global Radio (AM) Ltd

Smooth Plymouth

Surrender

Analogue Community Radio

Community Radio Fund – Round 1, 2023-34

The first round of the Community Radio Fund for 2023-24 closed on 13 June 2023. We received 53 applications, requesting a total of £1,027,674 of funding. The Community Radio Fund Panel will meet in July to consider the applications received and determine which stations will receive funding.

Licence extensions granted in this period

Service nameLicenseeLocation New expiry date

KeeP 106

Ridgeway Community Radio

Dorchester

29 June 2028

Drystone Radio

Drystone Radio Limited

Yorkshire

15 January 2029

Rhondda Radio

Rhondda Radio Ltd

Rhondda

16 July 2028

Great Driffield Radio

Great Driffield Radio Limited

Driffield

3 November 2028

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. Find information about the process, as well as an application form.

Changes to Key Commitments agreed in this period:

Ribble FM (PDF, 212.9 KB)

Published 02|06|23

Beyond Radio (PDF, 241.4 KB)

Published 05|06|23

Cross Counties Radio (PDF, 236.7 KB)

Published 05|06|23

Embrace Radio (PDF, 261.2 KB)

Published 15|06|23

East Devon Radio (PDF, 215.2 KB)

Published 15|06|23

B Radio (PDF, 212.2 KB)

Published 15|06|23

Juice Belfast

Published 15|06|23

Radio LaB

Published 15|06|23

Restricted Service Licences

Licences issued during in this period

Licensee Service name
IMG Media Ltd Services at the AELTC
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