Radio Broadcast Update – February 2025

A round-up of Ofcom’s broadcast radio licensing activity in February 2025.

• Digital Radio
• Analogue Commercial Radio
• Analogue Community Radio
• Restricted Services Licences

Digital Radio

Small-scale DAB multiplex licence awards

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

Grant of small-scale DAB multiplex licences

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

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

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

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

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

Analogue Commercial Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A seven-year renewal has been granted to the following:

A five-year renewal has been granted to the following:

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

Analogue Community Radio

Community Radio Fund – Round 2, 2024-25

Ofcom’s Community Radio Fund Panel (‘the Panel’) met on Tuesday 28 January 2025 to consider applications in the second round of funding for the 2024-2025 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:

• 80 applications for grants were considered;
• The total amount of funding requested in these applications was £1,852,282;
• 15 applicants were awarded grants which totaled £261,476;
• 65 applicants were not awarded a grant; and,
• The grants awarded ranged from £5,752 up to £30,000 for individual positions, with an average of £17,432. A summary of the awards is at the end of this statement.

Licence extensions granted this period 

A five year extension has been granted to the following:

Restricted service licences

Licences which have ceased to be licensed in this period