A round-up of Ofcom’s broadcast radio licensing activity in September 2023.
Digital Radio
National DAB multiplex variations
The following national radio multiplex variations were agreed during this period:
| Change | Multiplex |
|---|---|
| Addition of Heart Xmas (temporary service) | Digital One |
| Addition of Absolute Classic Rock; Absolute Radio Country; Heat Radio; Kerrang! Radio; Magic at the Musicals; Magic Chilled; Magic Soul. | Sound Digital |
| Removal of Fun Kids | Sound Digital |
Local DAB multiplex variations
The following local radio multiplex variations were agreed during this period:
| Change | Multiplex |
|---|---|
| Addition of Absolute 80s; Absolute Radio 90s | Birmingham, London 1, Manchester, Bradford & Huddersfield, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Humberside, Lancashire, Leeds, Liverpool, Northern Ireland, Oxfordshire, Stoke on Trent, Swansea, South Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear, Tayside, Teesside. |
| Addition of Jazz FM | Inverness |
| Addition of Kerrang! Radio | North & West Cumbria |
| Addition of Mellow Magic | Bradford & Huddersfield, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Leeds, Liverpool, Stoke on Trent, Swansea, South Yorkshire Tyne & Wear, Tayside, Teesside. |
| Addition of Planet Rock | Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford & Huddersfield, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Humberside, Inverness, Lancashire, Leeds, Liverpool, Oxforshire, Stoke on Trent, Swansea, South Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear, Tayside, Teesside, Northern Ireland, London 2, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Ayr, Berkshire & North Hampshire, Bournemouth, Bristol, Plymouth. |
| Addition of Scala Radio | London 1, Bradford & Huddersfield, Inverness, Stoke on Trent, Swansea, North Yorkshire. |
| Addition of Nation Xmas (temporary service) | London 2 |
| Removal of Absolute Classic Rock | Birmingham, Northern Ireland, Coventry, Wolverhampton. |
Removal of Absolute Radio Country | Birmingham, London 1, Manchester, Bradford & Huddersfield, North & West Cumbria, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Humberside, Inverness, Lancashire, Leeds, Liverpool, Stoke on Trent, Swansea, South Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear, Tayside, Teesside, North Yorkshire, Ayr, Berkshire & North Hampshire; Bournemouth; Bristol; Plymouth, |
| Removal of Heat Radio | Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Tayside. |
| Removal of Hits Radio Pride | Bradford & Huddersfield, Liverpool, Northern Ireland, Stoke on Trent, Swansea, South Yorkshire. |
| Removal of Jack FM; Jack 2 Hits; Jack 3 Chill | Oxfordshire |
Removal of Kerrang! Radio | Bradford & Huddersfield, Stoke on Trent, Tayside. |
| Removal of Magic at the Musicals | London 1, Manchester, Bradford & Huddersfield, Leeds, Stoke on Trent, Swansea, Tyne & Wear, Teesside. |
| Removal of Magic Chilled | London 1, Manchester, Bradford & Huddersfield, Edinburgh, Glasgow Humberside, Inverness, Lancashire, Leeds Liverpool, Stoke on Trent, Swansea, South Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear, Tayside, Teesside. |
| Removal of Magic Soul | Birmingham, London 1, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Humberside, Inverness, Lancashire, Leeds, Liverpool, Northern Ireland, Swansea, South Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear, Teesside. |
| Removal of Jazz FM; Nation 80s | London 2 |
| Removal of Pure Radio | Aberdeen, Central Scotland |
Removal of Hot Gold Radio | Bournemouth |
| Removal of Nation Radio UK | Morecambe Bay |
Removal of Nation’s Easy Radio | North East Wales & West Cheshire, London 2 |
| Removal of Boss Atlantis; Tomorrowland One World Radio | Surrey |
Small-scale DAB multiplex licence awards
The following small-scale radio multiplex licence awards were made during this period:
| Licence area | Successful applicant company |
|---|---|
| Alnwick and Morpeth (re-advertisement) | Northumberland Community Digital CIC |
| Isle of Scilly (re-advertisement) | Saltito Media Limited |
| Merthyr and Rhondda Cynon Taf (re-advertisement) | GTFM (South Wales) Limited |
Small-scale DAB: Announcement of Round Six licence areas
Ofcom is today announcing the 27 areas that we plan to advertise small-scale radio multiplex licences for in the sixth round of small-scale DAB multiplex licensing next year. They are as follows:
- Ayr, Troon and Irvine
- Barrow-in-Furness
- Bournemouth and Boscombe
- Bridgend
- Carlisle and Penrith
- Catterick, Rippon and Thirsk
- Corby and Kettering
- Cumbernauld and Coatbridge
- East Devon
- Erewash
- Halifax
- Huddersfield
- Huntingdon
- Isle of Wight
- Lanarkshire
- Larne, Carrickfergus and Newtown Abbey
- North Ayrshire
- Nuneaton and Hinckley
- Paisley and West Glasgow
- Poole, Purbeck and Wimborne
- Portadown and Craigavon
- South Craven, Wharfedale and Worth Valley
- Sunderland
- Walsall
- Weymouth, Dorchester and Bridport
- Workington and Whitehaven
- Yeovil
Digital sound programme service (DSP) and digital additional sound (DAS) licences issued during this period
| Licensee | Service name |
|---|---|
| The University of Northampton Enterprises Ltd | NLive |
| Exeter Community Radio | Phonic FM |
Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period
| Licensee | Service name | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Bolton FM Community Interest Company | Bolton FM | Bolton & Bury |
| Gaydio Community Interest Company | Gaydio | Stockport |
| Merseyside Dementia Friendly Radio CIC | Merseyside Dementia Friendly Radio | Liverpool |
Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period
| Licensee | Service name | Area |
|---|---|---|
| High Peak One Radio CIC | High Peak 1 | Glossop and Buxton |
| Torbay Hospital Radio | Torbay Hospital Radio | Torbay |
Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) which have ceased to be licensed in this period
| Licensee | Service name | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Tyneside Community Digital Community Interest Company Ltd | Together Radio | Surrendered x2 |
Analogue Commercial Radio
Licence renewals granted in this period
A seven year renewal has been granted to the following:
| Area | Service name | Current Licensee |
|---|---|---|
| North Wales Coast | Capital | Marcher Radio Group Limited |
A ten year renewal has been granted to the following:
| Area | Service name | Current Licensee |
|---|---|---|
| Greater London | Heart | Global Radio London Limited |
| Leicester | Capital | Leicester Sound Ltd |
Local radio licence transfers
Ofcom has approved the transfer of the following local commercial licences:
| Area | Service name | Previous Licensee | New Licensee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford/South Oxfordshire | Jack FM | Jack Media Oxfordshire Limited | Bauer Media Audio Limited acting as a general partner for Bauer Media Audio LP |
| Oxford | Jack 2 | Jack Media Oxfordshire Limited | Bauer Media Audio Limited acting as a general partner for Bauer Media Audio LP |
Analogue station Format Changes
During the last month the services listed below have requested an amendment to their technical arrangements. The application(s) are published on the commercial radio amendments 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 |
|---|---|
| Sunshine Radio | Ludlow and South Shropshire |
Analogue commercial radio licences which have ceased to be licensed in this period
| Licensee | Service name | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Global Radio Limited | Gold London | Surrender |
| Global Radio Media Management Limited | Smooth Radio (Sussex) | Surrender |
Analogue Community Radio
Licence extensions granted in this period
A five year extension has been granted to the following:
| Service name | Licensee | Location | New expiry date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carillon Wellbeing Radio | Carillon Wellbeing Limited | Coalville | 16 December 2028 |
| Radio Tircoed | Tircoed Village Trust | Swansea North-West | 30 November 2028 |
Analogue community radio licences which have ceased to be licensed in this period
| Service name | Licensee | Location | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radio Ramadan 365 | Noah’s Ark Glasgow | Glasgow | Surrender |