Radio broadcast update - February 2024

Published: 8 March 2024

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

Digital Radio

Local/national DAB multiplex variations

The following multiplex variations were agreed during this period:

ChangeMultiplex

Addition of Classic FM

Addition of LBC

Channel Islands

Addition of Absolute Radio 70s

North & West Cumbria

Addition of This Is The Coast

Lincolnshire

Addition of Hits Radio Pride

Removal of Scala Radio

North Yorkshire

Grant of small-scale DAB multiplex licences

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

Licence areaLicenseeTransmitters includedDate from

Bedford

In2DAB Limited

Bedford – Murdock Road

10 February 2024

Small scale DAB coverage change requests

The following requests to vary the licensed coverage area of a small-scale radio multiplex have been approved following consultation:

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

LicenseeService name

Laser558 Ltd

Laser 558

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and Digital additional sound (DAS) licences which have ceased to be licensed (handed back or revoked) in this period

LicenseeService name

Arena Radio Ltd

Arena Radio

Darlo Radio Media CIC

Alpha Radio

BritAsia TV Network Ltd

BritAsia Radio

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

LicenseeService nameArea

BFBS

BFBS Lisburn

Belfast & Lisburn

University of York Students’ Union

University Radio York

York

Radio Fiza Limited

Radio Faza 97.1FM

Nottingham

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

LicenseeService nameArea

More Muzic Radio CIC

More Muzic Radio

Peterborough

BritAsia Foundation CIC

Darbar Sahib Radio

North Birmingham

Premier Radio CIC

Wrexham Premier Radio

Wrexham

Prince Bishop Community Broadcasting Limited

Bishop FM

Darlington & Bishop Auckland

Station House Media Unit

shmuFM

Aberdeen

Community Radio Swindon Limited

Swindon 105.5

Swindon

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

LicenseeService nameReason

Memory Lane Productions CIC

Memory Lane Radio

Tynemouth & South Shields/Newcastle & Gateshead

Analogue Commercial Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A ten year renewal has been granted to the following:

AreaService nameCurrent Licensee

Birmingham

Free Radio

Bauer Radio Limited

A five year renewal has been granted to the following:

AreaService nameCurrent Licensee

Lincoln

Greatest Hits Radio

Bauer Radio Limited

Analogue Community Radio

Community Radio Fund – Round 2, 2023-24

Ofcom’s Community Radio Fund Panel (‘the Panel’) met on Tuesday 13th February 2023 to consider applications in the second round of funding for the 2023-2024 financial year.

The Panel considered each application and awarded funding based on the information provided, and with reference to the Community Radio Fund (‘the Fund’) guidance notes. For each grant bid the Panel decided whether to make a full award, a partial award or not to award any funding.

At the meeting:

  • 72 applications for grants were considered
  • 14 applications were awarded a grant; and
  • 58 applicants were not awarded a grant.

The total amount of funding requested in these applications was £1,398,349. Applicants were awarded grants which totalled £257,832. The grants awarded ranged from £9,100 up to £28,000 for individual positions, with an average of £18,417. A summary of the awards is available on our website.

Licence extensions granted in this period 

A five year extension has been granted to the following:

Service nameLicenseeLocationNew expiry date

Hillz FM

Working Actively to Change Hillfields Limited (WATCH)

Coventry

1 June 2029

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

Service nameLicenseeLocationReason

Buchan

Buchan Community Radio CIC

Peterhead

Lapsed

Purbeck Coast

Swanage Pier Trust

Swanage

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 website here https://www-pp.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/analogue-radio/amend/

Changes to Key Commitments agreed in this period:

Published 05|02|24

Published 09|02|24

Published 15|02|24

Published 16|02|24

This month, we also published a consultation on a Key Commitment change request from B Radio (Farnborough), which can be found here. We welcome consultation responses until the closing date of Monday 25 March 2024.

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 nameLocation

Beat Radio

Preston

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