Radio broadcast update – July 2024

TV, radio and on-demand Analogue radio Community radio Coverage and transmitters Licence information Radio broadcasting updates
Published: 8 August 2024

A round-up of Ofcom’s broadcast radio licensing activity in July 2024.

This edition also includes information about the upcoming application window for RSL licensing during 2025’s period of high demand, which includes Ramadan.

Digital Radio

Local/national DAB multiplex variations

The following multiplex variations were agreed during this period:

Change Multiplex
Removal of Planet Rock Ayr; Coventry; Plymouth.
Removal of Hits Radio (UK) Ayr.
Removal of Hits Radio Pride Bournemouth. 
Addition of Hits Radio (UK)  Somerset; Surrey & North Sussex; Gloucestershire.

Radio multiplex licence renewals

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

Multiplex Licensee New Expiry Date
Somerset Triple MuxCo Somerset Limited 31 December 2030
Lincolnshire MuxCo Lincolnshire Limited 31 December 2030
Suffolk MuxCo Suffolk Limited 31 December 2030
North West Wales MuxCo North Wales Limited 31 December 2030
Berkshire & North Hampshire Now Digital Limited 31 December 2030

Small-scale DAB multiplex licence awards

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

Licence area Successful applicant company
Alton, Petersfield & Haslemere Provincial DAB Limited
Ashford & Dungeness Ashford DAB Limited
Brighton Brighton & Hove Digital Radio CIC
Canterbury  Canterbury DAB CIC
Chelmsford Chelmsford Digital Radio Limited
Colchester & Clacton Essex DAB Limited
Eastbourne, Lewes & Newhaven  East Sussex Digital Radio Limited
Guildford & Woking Muxcast 5 Limited
Harlow  Xtra DAB Limited
Hastings Hastings Digital Radio CIC
Haywards Heath & Uckfield  Central Sussex Digital Radio Limited
Luton University of Bedfordshire
Maidstone, Tunbridge & Tonbridge West Kent Digital Limited
Margate, Dover & Folkestone  Kent Coast DAB Limited
North East London & South West Essex  East London and Essex Digital CIC
North London    U.DAB Limited
Portsmouth Angel DAB Limited
Reading Local Radio Limited
Sittingbourne & Medway Towns Medway & Swale DAB Limited
South East London & North West Kent  GreenDAB Ltd
South Hertfordshire South Herts DAB Limited
South London South of the River Digital Limited
South West Sussex Digital Radio West Sussex Limited
Southend City DAB Limited
West London City West Digital CIC

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
Newport & Chepstow

Gwent Digital

Broadcasting Limited

 Cwmbran - The Tower; Newport - Hillview Flats; Newbridge - Pontllanfraith B; Chepstow – Gaer Hill Farm. 5 July 2024
Newry UlsterMux Limited Banbridge – Thorn Hill; Castlewellan; Cloughoge; Corrinshingo; Crossmaglen; Forkhill; Kilkeel – Moor Road; Rathfriland; Tullyhappy; Warrenpoint – Havelock Place. 15 July 2024

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

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS)
Paul Bannister Feelgood Throwbacks DSPS
Fresh Soundz Radio Ltd FS Radio DSPS
Gwent Radio DAB Ltd Gwent Radio  DSPS
Purple Daze Ltd Codesouth.fm DSPS

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
Jack Media Oxfordshire Limited Jack FM (Oxfordshire) DSPS Surrendered
Jack Media Oxfordshire Limited Jack 2 (Oxford) DSPS Surrendered

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

Licensee Service name Area
Avondale Radio SCIO Avondale Radio  Lanarkshire
Celtic Music Radio Limited Celtic Music Radio  Inverclyde
Community Equality Disability Action Access All Aerials Exeter
Glitterbeam Kent C.I.C. GlitterBeam Kent South-East London and North West Kent

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

Licensee Service name Area
Sid Valley Radio Ltd Sid Valley Radio Sidmouth
Hospital Radio Bedside Dorset Coast Radio Dorset
Newport City Radio CIC Newport City Radio  Newport
Higher Rhythm Limited Sine FM Doncaster
Affinity Media NE CIC Affinity Radio Newcastle and Gateshead

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

Licensee Service name Reason
Stockport One Digital Ltd Stockport One Radio Licence Surrendered

Radio licensable content services (RLCS) which have ceased to be licensed in this period

Licensee Service name Reason
Kanshi Radio Ltd Kanshi Radio Surrendered

Analogue Commercial Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A seven year renewal has been granted to the following:

Area Service name Current Licensee
Pembrokeshire Radio Pembrokeshire Haven FM (Pembrokeshire) Limited

A five year renewal has been granted to the following:

Area Service name Current Licensee
York Greatest Hits Radio Bauer Radio Limited
Burnley & Pendle Capital Lancashire Broadcasting Company Limited

Analogue station Format Changes

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).  

Service name Licensed area Change agreed
Channel 103 Jersey Improvement

Analogue Community Radio 

Licence extensions granted in this period

A five year extension has been granted to the following:

Service name Licensee Location New expiry date
Coast FM Penwith Community Radio Station Community Interest Company Cornwall 29 August 2029
Nomad Radio Nomads Media CIC Hammersmith 5 October 2029
Liverpool Community Radio KensingtonVision Community Interest Company Liverpool 31 October 2029
Dunoon Community Radio Dunoon Radio Ltd Dunoon 30 November 2029
Deveron FM DeveronFM Limited Banff and Macduff 30 November 2029
Speysound Radio (Scotland) Speysound Radio Limited Aviemore 5 December 2029
TMCR FM TMCRFM Limited Thorne-Moorends 13 December 2029

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

Service name Licensee Location Reason
Radio Warrington Radio Warrington CIC Warrington Surrender

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 Ameding your Radio licence guide.

Changes to Key Commitments agreed in this period: 

Lincoln City Radio
Published 10|07|24

Coverage improvement and extension requests

During the last month the services listed below have had their requests for a coverage improvement 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). We have considered the following requests to constitute coverage improvements.

Coverage improvements agreed:

Service name Location
Gateway 97.8 Basildon

Coverage extensions agreed:

See the guidance notes for the range of factors we take into account when considering these requests (in particular, paragraphs 2.46-2.49).

Station Thornbury Radio
Current licence area Thornbury and surrounding villages
Extended licence area Thornbury, Olveston and Cribbs Causeway
Reasons for agreeing to the extension

Increase in licensed area:

An extension via a relay at Cribbs Causeway was AGREED. 

While this coverage extension in isolation was considered to be modest in terms of adult population figures, the cumulative impact of a previously agreed power increase could reasonably be regarded as significant when compared to the original licence position. 

Exceptional circumstances: Ofcom considered that there were ‘exceptional circumstances’ to justify an increase that would be reasonably considered to be significant.

Other considerations

  • The Licensee explained that audiences travel to and from proposed extended area for work or leisure. However, poor reception prevents the continuity of service. The addition of changes to local commercial factors means that more listeners are anticipated to travel to the extended area which poses an increased risk to the retention of listeners, and in turn the commercial viability of this rural service. The proposed extension will therefore support the ongoing sustainability of the service through greater opportunities for commercial revenue, while also allowing existing listeners access to the service in the proposed area when they travel there.
  • The applicant conducted a survey of their listeners to demonstrate the impact of poor coverage on the retention of listeners, and in turn demand for the service in the extended area. This was further supplemented by evidence of support for the proposal from various sections of the community including a South Gloucestershire Councillor, local businesses, listeners and local charities.
  • The Licensee asserted that the existing and proposed extended areas are within the same unitary authority and are connected by a regular bus service. Further, the extended area is a 15-minute drive from the studio. This demonstrates a relationship and affinity between the two areas.  
  • The applicant highlighted that they already provide a service for the proposed extended area through regular traffic and public transport reporting for workers and shoppers.  This demonstrates that the existing service would cater to the needs and interests of their listeners in the extended area.
  • It was noted that whilst no change to the existing Key Commitments would be required, the service also hopes that by covering this new area, residents in the proposed extended area would be more likely to travel the short distance to Thornbury. This is in keeping with the Licensee’s aim of promoting Thornbury and encouraging people to visit the area, so the extension will help support this aim.
  • The Licensee asserted a power increase at the existing relay would not address poor coverage in the proposed extended area due to the local topography. It therefore considered a relay to be the best technical solution to maintain spectral efficiency.
  • Ofcom published this application for a period of one month, which provides anyone with an opportunity to comment on the application. Ofcom received no comments from any party. Ofcom’s analysis has also indicated that there will be no overlap within the core areas of the neighbouring community radio services.

Please note:

The success of an application is, amongst other things, dependent on frequency availability and whether there may be an increase in harmful outgoing interference to other stations. In every case we need to take account of other services (community, commercial and BBC) on the same frequency or an adjacent one to yours (or to a frequency that we may be considering for a relay). Please see the guidance document (PDF, 325.1 KB) for further information.

Restricted service licences

Period of high demand – 2025

On Monday 19 August 2024 we will open a one-week application window for anyone wishing to apply to hold a restricted service licence (RSL) to broadcast during 2025’s recognised period of high demand (any dates between 24 February and 4 April inclusive), which includes the period of Ramadan.

For more information, please visit the RSL pages on our website. 

Licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name
Soar Sound Soar Sound (serving Aylestone St James RFC)
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