A round-up of Ofcom’s broadcast radio licensing activity in January 2025.
Digital Radio
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 |
| South Hertfordshire | South Herts DAB Limited | St. Albans - St. Peter's Church; Watford - YMCA. | 20 January 2025 |
Digital sound programme service (DSP) and digital additional sound (DAS) licences issued during this period
| Licensee | Service name | Licence type (DSPS or DAS) |
| Marvin Morris | Congregation Room 22 | DSPS |
| Now Ayrshire Radio Ltd | Now Ayrshire Radio | DSPS |
| Hellas Radio UK Ltd | Hellas Radio UK | DSPS |
| ASJ Digital Media Ltd | Atomix Radio | DSPS |
| Viral Tribe Entertainment Ltd | Soho Radio | 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 |
| Fylde Coast Radio Broadcast | Fylde Coast Radio | DSPS | Surrendered |
Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period
| Licensee | Service name | Area |
| The Vibe Watford Limited | Vibe | South Hertfordshire |
| Express FM (Portsmouth) Limited | Express FM | Portsmouth |
Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period
| Licensee | Service name | Area |
| Radio Wimborne Ltd | Radio Wimborne | Poole, Purbeck and Wimborne |
| Verulam Community Radio Ltd | Mix 92.6 | South Hertfordshire |
Analogue Commercial Radio
Licence renewals granted in this period
A ten-year renewal has been granted to the following:
| Area | Service name | Current Licensee |
| Edinburgh | Forth 1 | Bauer Radio Limited |
| Humberside | Hits Radio (East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire) | Bauer Radio Limited |
| Plymouth | Heart | Plymouth Sound Ltd |
| Teeside | Hits Radio (North East) | Bauer Radio Limited |
| Nottingham/Derby | Capital | GWR Group Limited |
| Norwhich and Great Yarmouth | Capital | Radio Broadland Limited |
| Maidstone & Medway/East Kent | Heart | Gloval Radio Management Limited |
| South Hampshire | Capital/Heart | Global Radio Hempshire Ltd |
| Wolverhampton, Shrewbury and Telford | Hits Radio (Black Country and Shropshire) | Bauer Radio Limited |
| Northern Ireland | Cool FM/Downtown Radio | Downtown Radio Limited |
| Reading/Basingstoke & Andover | Heart | Thames Valley Broadcasting Limited |
| Cambrirdge & Newmarket | Heart | Mid Anglia Radio Limited |
A seven-year renewal has been granted to the following:
| Area | Service name | Current Licensee |
| Stirling & Falkirk | Central FM | Central FM Ltd |
Coverage amendment requests
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 Carmarthenshire | Carmarthenshire |
Analogue Community Radio
Community Radio Fund – Round 2, 2024-25
The Panel met to discuss applications received in this round on 28 January 2025. DCMS provided an uplift of £50,000 in this round bringing the total amount of funding available to £262,005.
Ofcom will publish a statement announcing the successful applicants in due course.
For further information, please contact Ofcom's Community Radio team at communityradiofund@ofcom.org.uk.
Licence exntensions granted this period
A five year exenstion has been granted to the following:
| Service name | Licensee | Location | New expiry date |
| Beverley FM | East Yorkshire Broadcasting Limited | Beverley | 19 January 2030 |
| CamGlen Radio | Healthy N Happy | Cambusland | 18 March 2030 |
| Radio LaB | University of Bedfordshire | Luton | 21 February 2029 |
| Riviera FM | Riviera FM Limited | Torbay | 2 April 2030 |
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 |
| Clinque Ports | Romney Marsh |
Restricted service licences
Licences which have ceased to be licensed in this period
| Licensee | Service name | Reason |
| Trustees of Radio Glangwili | Radio Glangwili | Surrendered |