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:
| Change | Multiplex |
|---|---|
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 area | Licensee | Transmitters included | Date 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
| Licensee | Service 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
| Licensee | Service 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
| Licensee | Service name | Area |
|---|---|---|
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
| Licensee | Service name | Area |
|---|---|---|
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
| Licensee | Service name | Reason |
|---|---|---|
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:
| Area | Service name | Current Licensee |
|---|---|---|
Birmingham | Free Radio | Bauer Radio Limited |
A five year renewal has been granted to the following:
| Area | Service name | Current 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 name | Licensee | Location | New 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 name | Licensee | Location | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
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 name | Location |
|---|---|
Beat Radio | Preston |