A round-up of Ofcom’s broadcast radio licensing activity in May 2023.
Digital radio
Local/national DAB multiplex variations
The following multiplex variations were agreed during this period:
Change | Multiplex |
---|---|
Addition of Sunrise Smooth – A contemporary mix of smooth Asian/urban music for Asians aged 25-50. | London 2 |
Removal of Jeo Radio – A lively, contemporary Asian/Urban music led station for young Asians aged 15-44. |
Radio multiplex licence renewals
The following radio multiplex licences have been granted a renewal during this period:
Multiplex | Licensee | New expiry date |
---|---|---|
Swansea | Bauer Digital Radio 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 |
---|---|
Banbury & Bicester | NOxDAB Limited |
North Buckinghamshire | North Bucks DAB Limited |
North Pembrokeshire | West Wales DAB Limited |
South Pembrokeshire | Pure West Radio Limited |
Grant of small-scale DAB multiplex licences
The following small-scale radio multiplex licences were granted during this period:
Licence area | Licensee | Transmitters licensed | Date from |
---|---|---|---|
Congleton & Leek | Moorlands DAB Ltd | Biddulph Moor – Rails Farm | 1 May 2023 |
Crewe, Nantwich & Whitchurch | South Cheshire DAB Ltd | Crewe – South Cheshire College | 15 May 2023 |
Digital sound programme service (DSP) and digital additional sound (DAS) licences issued during this period
Licensee | Service name |
---|---|
Smart Broadcast Ltd | Love Life Radio |
Smile Radio Ltd | Smile Radio |
Digris Ltd | Open Broadcast Radio |
Digital sound programme service (DSP) and Digital additional sound (DAS) licences transferred during in this period
Service Name | Previous Licensee | New Licensee |
---|---|---|
Fylde Coast Radio | Fylde Coast Radio Ltd | Fylde Coast Radio Broadcast Ltd |
Amber Radio | Amber Radio Ltd | Amber Radio Group Ltd |
Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period
Licensee | Service Name | Area |
---|---|---|
Bedrock Radio | Bedrock Radio | North East London & South West Essex |
Gaydio Community Interest Company | Gaydio | Manchester |
British Muslim Heritage Centre | Heritage Radio | Manchester |
Prince Bishops Hospital Radio | Prince Bishops Hospital Radio | Darlington & Bishop Auckland |
Forth Valley Broadcasting Service | Radio Royal | Stirling & Falkirk |
Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period
Licensee | Service Name | Area |
---|---|---|
Spirit of Plymouth Radio Limited | Cross Rhythms Plymouth | Plymouth |
Hospital Radio Plymouth | Hospital Radio Plymouth | Plymouth |
Moorlands Radio CIC | Moorlands Radio | Congleton & Leek |
Reform Radio CIC | Reform Radio | Manchester |
The Cat Community Radio CIC | The Cat | Crewe & Nantwich |
East Cleveland Community Radio Ltd | Zetland FM | Middlesborough & Redcar |
Analogue commercial radio
Cessation of Absolute Radio national AM service
Ofcom has imposed a £25,000 fine on Bauer Radio after it ceased to provide the national AM service Absolute Radio before the end of its licence period.
You can read our decision on the level of financial penalty.
Coverage improvement and extension requests
During the last month the service below had its request for an improvement to its existing coverage 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).
Coverage extensions agreed
Station | Sunrise Radio |
---|---|
Current licence area | Bradford |
Extended licence area | Bradford, Keighley, and Halifax |
Reasons for agreeing to the extension | Increase in licensed area: An extension via a relay in Halifax was AGREED. Ofcom has also agreed a relay to improve coverage in the area of Keighley. The increase in the size of the adult population served was not deemed to be significant. Exceptional circumstances: Ofcom did not need to consider whether there were ‘exceptional circumstances’ to justify an increase in this case. Other considerations:
|
Analogue community radio
Community Radio Fund – Round 1, 2023-24
The first round of the Community Radio Fund 2023-24 opened for applications from eligible stations on Friday 19 May 2023 and will close at 5pm on Tuesday 13 June 2023. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has made £400,000 available over the 2023-2024 financial year. There is also £4,020.27 available from previous underspends, meaning that the total amount available is £404,020.27 for application.
The Fund supports the core costs of running Ofcom-licensed community radio stations as set out in the guidance notes published below. Applicants should read these guidance notes in full before submitting an application.
Licensees that hold a Community Digital Sound Programme (C-DSP) licence are eligible to apply for the Fund if the station is broadcasting on a digital radio multiplex at the date of their application.
Grants can only be made to Ofcom-licensed community radio stations in the UK, broadcasting on AM, FM, or via a C-DSP licence on a digital radio multiplex. Applications from eligible licence-holders may be submitted in Welsh. Any application submitted in Welsh will be treated no less favourably than an application submitted in English.
We expect that the Community Radio Fund Panel will meet in July 2023 to consider the applications. However, scheduling will depend on the volume of applications we receive.
For further information, please contact the Community Radio Fund team at communityradiofund@ofcom.org.uk
Licence extensions granted in this period
A five year extension has been granted to the following:
Service name | Licensee | Location | New expiry date |
---|---|---|---|
Radio Newquay | Radio Newquay and Media Limited | Cornwall | 21 August 2028 |
Awaaz FM | Awaaz FM Community Radio CIC | Eastleigh | 11 September 2028 |
Winchester Radio | Winchester Radio | Winchester | 9 March 2029 |
Great Driffield Radio | Great Driffield Radio Limited | Driffield | 3 November 2028 |
Rhondda Radio | Rhondda Radio Ltd | Rhondda & Rhondda Valley | 16 July 2028 |
Licence transfers in this period
Ofcom has approved the transfer of the following community radio licence.
Service name | Location | Previous Licensee | New Licensee |
---|---|---|---|
Gravity FM | Grantham | Gravity FM CIC | South Lincolnshire Blind Society |
Revival FM | Cumbernauld | Revival Radio Limited | Home Church Scotland |
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, including an application form, is available on our website.
Changes to Key Commitments agreed in this period:
Alive Radio (PDF, 231.6 KB)
Published 26 May 2023
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 |
---|---|
Coast FM | Penwith |
Restricted service licences
Licences issued during in this period
Licensee | Service name |
---|---|
BFBS Shorncliffe Ltd | BFBS Gurkha Radio (Normandy Barracks) |
BFBS Shorncliffe Ltd | BFBS Gurkha Radio (Blandford Camp) |