A round-up of Ofcom’s broadcast radio licensing activity in October 2024.
Digital Radio
Local/national DAB multiplex variations
In October the Secretary of State of Culture, Media and Sport made commencement regulations which bring Part 5 of the Media Act 2024 into force. Part 5 contains a number of provisions relating to how commercial radio is regulated, including ending the need for local and national DAB multiplex providers to ask Ofcom for permission to add or remove digital radio stations. As a result, we will no longer be reporting on multiplex line-up changes in this monthly update.
Small-scale DAB multiplex licence awards
The following small-scale radio multiplex licence awards were made during this period:
| Licnece area | Sucessful applicant company |
| Bournemouth & Boscombe | BH Community DAB Limited |
| Isle of Wight | Wight Digital Radio CIC |
| Poole, Purbeck & Wimborne | Wide Digital Limited |
| Warminster, Trowbridge & Devizes | West Wiltshire DAB CIC |
Grant of small-scale DAB multiplex licences
The following small-scale radio multiplex licences were granted during this period:
| License area | Licensee | Transmitters licensed | Date from |
| North Permbrokeshire | West Wales DAB Limited | Haverfordwest – Arnolds Hill; St. David’s – Brawdy | 24 October 2024 |
| South Permbrokeshire | Pure West Radio Limited | Narberth – Allansbank; Milfordhaven – Angle; Carmarthen – Penlan | 24 October 2024 |
Small-scale DAB progress report
During October Ofcom published a progress report on our licensing of small-scale DAB to date, plus a small-scale DAB frequency plan.
Digital sound programme service (DSP) and digital additional sound (DAS) licences issued during this period
| Licensee | Service name | Licence type (DSPS or DAS) |
| Scarborough Radio Ltd | Coast and Country Radio | DSPS (Local) |
| SELNEC Media Ltd | Nifty UK Radio | DSPS (Local) |
| Gull Network Ltd | Asian Air Radio | DSPS (Local) |
| Pure West Resources Ltd | Pure West Radio | DSPS (Local) |
| Evolve Radio Ltd | Evolve Radio | DSPS (Local) |
| Broadland Radio Ltd | Broadland Radio | DSPS (Local) |
| Blackpool Community Radio Ltd | Blackpool Community Radio | DSPS (Local) |
| Southport Education Group | Spark Radio | DSPS (Local) |
| Burnley College | Burnley College Radio | DSPS (Local) |
Digital sound programme service (DSP) and Digital additional sound (DAS) licences which have ceased to be licensed (handed back, rescinded or revoked) in this period
| Licensee | Service name | Licence type (DSPS or DAS) | Reason |
| Harpur Radio Ltd | Harpur Radio | DSPS (Local) | Surrendered |
| Fix Radio Ltd | Fix Radio | DSPS (Local) | Surrendered |
Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period
| Licensee | Service name | Area |
| Celtic Music Radio Limited | Celtic Music Radio | Inverclyde |
| Community Equality Disability Action | Access All Aerials | Exeter |
Analogue Commercial Radio
Licence renewals granted in this period
A 10-year renewal has been granted to the following:
| Area | Service name | Current Licensee |
| South Yorkshire | Hits South Yorkshire | Bauer Radio Limited |
A seven-year renewal has been granted to the following:
| Area | Service name | Current Licensee |
| Northampton | Heart | Chiltern Radio Limited |
| St Albans and Watford Broadcasting Company | Heart | St Albans and Watford Broadcasting Company Limited |
| Reading | GHR Reading | Bauer Radio Limited |
A five-year renewal has been granted to the following:
| Area | Service name | Current Licensee |
| South Wales | Heart | Real Radio Limited |
Analogue commercial radio licences which have ceased to be licenced this period
| Licensee | Service name | Reason |
| LBC Radio Limited | LBC News | Surrendered |
Analogue Community Radio
Community Radio Fund – Round 2, 2024-25
The second round of the Community Radio Fund 2024-25 opens for applications from eligible stations on Tuesday 5 November and will close at 5pm on Sunday 8 December 2024. The awarding Panel will meet in early February 2025 to consider the applications.
Please follow the above link to access the guidance notes and application forms.
Grants can only be made to Ofcom-licensed community radio stations in the UK, broadcasting on AM, FM, or via a Community Digital Sound Programme 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 favorably than an application submitted in English.
For further information, please contact Ofcom's Community Radio 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 |
| Academy FM Thanet | Academy FM Thanet | Thanet | 4 April 2030 |
| Caithness FM | Caithness F.M. Limited | Caithness | 13 January 2030 |
| Caroline Coastal FM | St Peters Studio and Community Radio Limited | Maldon District | 3 March 20230 |
| Gateway 97.8 | Gateaway Community Media CIC | Basildon | 24 September 2030 |
| Gaydio | Gaydio Community Interest Company | Manchester | 17 June 2030 |
| Meridian FM | Meridian FM Radio | East Grinstead | 28 February 2030 |
| Spark FM | University of Sunderland | Sunderland | 25 October 2029 |
| TD1 | Borders Community Radio Limited | Galashiels, Central Borders | 29 March 2030 |
Analogue community radio licenes which have ceased to be licensed in this period
| Service name | Licensee | Location | Reason |
| Blackburn's 102.2 FM | Blackburn Community Radio Limited | Blackburn | Surrendered |
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, as well as an application form, are on our website here.
Changes to Key Commitments agreed in this period:
Susy Radio
Published 09|10|24