A round-up of Ofcom’s broadcast radio licensing activity in September 2024.
Digital Radio
Local/national DAB multiplex variations
The following multiplex variations were agreed during this period:
| Change | Multiplex |
| Removal of Capital Taylor’s Version, Capital Chill, Scala, Magic Chilled, Heat. Addition of Smooth 80’s, Capital Anthems, Magic Classical, Hits Radio Chill, Kisstory R&B, Greatest Hits Radio 60s. |
National 2 |
| Addition of Heart 10s, Classic FM Calm, Heart Musicals, Heart Love, Smooth Soul, Smooth 70s, Radio X 90s, Radio X Chilled, Radio X 00s, Capital Chill, Smooth Christmas (temporary service). | London 3 |
| Addition of Classic FM Movies | London 1 |
| Removal of Magic Chilled Addition of Hits Radio Chilled |
North & West Cumbria |
| Addition of Heart Xmas (temporary service). | National 1 |
| Removal of Xtra Hot Addition of Hot Gold |
South Hampshire |
| Addition of Fun Kids Spooky (temporary service for Halloween), Fresh Soundz Radio | Surrey & North Susses |
| Removal of Planet Rock | Bristol |
| Addition of Gold Radio, Radio X | Channel Islands |
| Addition of Lyca Radio | Leicestershire |
Radio multiplex licence renewals
The following radio multiplex licences have been granted a renewal during this period:
| Multiplex | Licensee | New expiry date |
| North East Wales & West Cheshire | MuxCo North East Wales and West Cheshire Limited | 31 December 2030 |
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 |
| South Gloucestershire | South Glos Digital CIC | Milbury Heath – Cuttsheath Road | 16 September 2024 |
Digital sound programme service (DSP) and digital additional sound (DAS) licences issued during this period
| Licensee | Service name | Licence type (DSPS or DAS) |
| Thornbury Media Community Interest Company | Thornbury Radio | DSPS |
| TFS Radio | TFS Radio | DSPS |
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programme service (DSP) and Digital additional sound (DAS) licences which have ceased to be licensed (handed back, rescinded or revoked) in this period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 |
| BlitzKids Radio Holdings Ltd | BlitzKids Radio | DSPS | Rescinded |
| Border Media Limited | Classic Hits | DSPS | Rescinded |
| First Choice Radio Limited | First Choice Radio | DSPS | Rescinded |
| VIBE Yorkshire Ltd | VIBE Yorkshire | DSPS | Rescinded |
| BAM HQ Ltd | Halo Radio | DSPS | Surrendered |
Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period
| Licensee | Service name | Area |
| TMCRFM Limited | TMCR | Doncaster |
Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period
| Licensee | Service name | Area |
| Bolton Hindu Forum | BHF Radio | Bolton Bury |
| Avondale Radio SCIO | Avondale Radio | Lanarkshire |
Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) which have ceased to be licensed in this period
| Licensee | Service name | Reason |
| Fresh Leeds Community Radio C.I.C. | Fresh Leeds | Rescinded |
Analogue Commercial Radio
Licence renewals granted in this period
A 10-year renewal has been granted to the following:
| Area | Service name | Current Licensee |
| Brighton/Eastbourne & Hastings | Heart | Southern Radio Limited |
Coverage amendment requests
Coverage amendments received:
During the last month the services listed below have requested an amendment to their technical parameters. The application(s) are published on the commercial 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 |
| Radio Pembrokeshire | Pembrokeshire |
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 |
| Cumbernauld FM | Cumbernauld FM Limited | Cumbernauld | 2 March 2030 |
| fUSe FM | Ullans Speakers Association | Ballymoney | 5 July 2030 |
| KTCRfm | Keynsham Town Community Radio (KTCR) | Keynsham | 21 January 2030 |
| Leeds Dance Community Radio | Leeds Dance Community Radio Ltd | Leeds | 19 May 2030 |
| Lincoln City Radio | Lindum Radio Broadcasting Company CIC | Lincoln | 25 April 2030 |
| Radio MAC | Media Arts & Culture Ltd | Bradford | 24 October 2029 |
| Radio Tamworth | Tamworth Radio Broadcasting CIC | Tamworth | 30 October 2029 |
| Redroad FM | Redroad FM Ltd | Harthill | 26 March 2030 |
| The Cat | The Cat Community Radio C.I.C. | Nantwich and Crewe | 13 February 2030 |
| Vanny Radio | Vanny Radio -Community Broadcasters | Coventry | 23 January 2030 |
Analogue community radio licenes which have ceased to be licensed in this period
| Service name | Licensee | Location | Reason |
| Salaam BCR | Markaz-Al-Huda Limited | Bury | Surrendered |
Coverage improvement and extension requests
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 |
| Nevis Radio | Fort William |
Coverage improvements agreed:
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.
| Service name | Location |
| Funky SX | Southend-on-Sea |
| Kohinoor | Leicester |
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
2025’s period of high demand
Following the application window in August, we have published a list of the areas for which we have received restricted service licence (RSL) event applications, to broadcast on dates between Monday 24 February and Friday 4 April 2025. We have received more than one application for some areas, and as laid out in our guidance notes, we will conduct draws for those.