A round-up of Ofcom’s broadcast radio licensing activity in March 2025.
Digital Radio
Radio multiplex licence renewals
| Multiplex |
Licensee |
New expiry date |
| Ayr |
Now Digital Limited |
31 December 2030 |
| Bournemouth |
Now Digital Limited |
31 December 2030 |
| Essex |
Now Digital Limited |
31 December 2030 |
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:
| Licence area |
Licensee |
Transmitters licensed |
Date from |
| Merthyr & Rhondda Cynon Taff |
GTFM (South Wales) Limited |
Aberdare - Leisure Centre; Ferndale – Shooting Club; Mountain Ash; Ystrad - Nant y Gwyddon Landfill. |
12 March 2025 |
| Poole, Purbeck & Wimborne |
Wide Digital Limited |
Nine Barrow Down. |
20 March 2025 |
Digital sound programme service (DSP) and digital additional sound (DAS) licences issued during this period
| Licensee |
Service name |
Licence type (DSPS or DAS) |
| Voice of Hope Radio |
Voice of Hope Radio |
DSPS (local) |
| Spume FM Ltd |
Spume FM |
DSPS (local) |
| The Lab Music Studio Ltd |
House FM |
DSPS (local) |
| Phoenix FM Ltd |
Phoenix FM |
DSPS (local) |
| Horizon Radio Ltd |
Horizon Radio |
DSPS (local) |
| Cheshire Media and Arts CIC |
Strawberry Radio |
DSPS (local) |
| Philip Richards Hampden Wall |
Radio Broadstairs |
DSPS (local) |
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 |
| Endorse Radio Limited |
Endorse Radio |
DSPS (local) |
Rescinded |
| Sanity Radio Limite |
All Hits & Giggles! |
DSPS (local) |
Rescinded |
| Sara-Int Ltd |
Polish Radio London 24 |
DSPS (local) |
Surrendered |
Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period
| Licensee |
Service name |
Area |
| Advance Learning Partnership |
ALP Radio |
Durham |
| Cultural Media Enterprise |
Unity 101 Community Radio |
Southampton |
Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period
| Licensee |
Service name |
Area |
| Koast Radio Limited |
Koast Radio |
Alnwick and Morpeth |
| Petersfield Community Radio Ltd |
Petersfield's Shine Radio |
Alton, Petersfield and Haslemere |
Analogue Commercial Radio
Licence renewals granted in this period
A 10-year renewal has been granted to the following:
| Area |
Service name |
Current Licensee |
| Caernarfon |
Capital |
Marcher Radio Group Limited |
| Chelmsford |
Radio Essex |
Radio Essex Limited |
A five-year renewal has been granted to the following:
| Area |
Service name |
Current Licensee |
| Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath |
More Radio |
Media Sound Limited |
Local radio licence transfers
Ofcom has approved the transfer of the following local commercial licences:
| Area |
Service name |
Previous Licensee |
New Licensee |
| Cambridge |
Star Radio |
Light Blue Media Cambridge Limited |
Bauer Media Audio Limited acting as a general partner for Bauer Media Audio LP |
Analogue Community Radio
Licence extensions granted this period
A five year extension has been granted to the following:
| Service name |
Licensee |
Location |
New expiry date |
| Inspire FM |
House of Abraham |
Luton |
9 August 2030 |
| Ashdown Radio |
Ashdown Radio Limited |
East Sussex |
30 June 2030 |
Licence transfers in this period
Ofcom has approved the transfer of the following community radio licence.
| Service name |
Location |
Previous Licensee |
New Licnesee |
| Calon FM |
Wrexham |
Wrexham Community Broadcasting CIC |
Premier Radio CIC |
Stakeholder Engagement
In February 2025 bodies representing the community radio sector met with Ofcom. A note of the meeting is available at Community radio - Ofcom.
