Radio broadcast update – September 2023

Published: 6 October 2023

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:

ChangeMultiplex
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 KidsSound Digital

Local DAB multiplex variations

The following local radio multiplex variations were agreed during this period:

ChangeMultiplex
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 FMInverness
Addition of Kerrang! RadioNorth & 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 RockBirmingham, 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 RadioEdinburgh, 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 ChillOxfordshire

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 80sLondon 2
Removal of Pure RadioAberdeen, 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 RadioSurrey

Small-scale DAB multiplex licence awards

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

Licence areaSuccessful 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

LicenseeService name
The University of Northampton Enterprises LtdNLive
Exeter Community RadioPhonic FM

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

LicenseeService nameArea
Bolton FM Community Interest CompanyBolton FMBolton & Bury
Gaydio Community Interest CompanyGaydioStockport
Merseyside Dementia Friendly Radio CICMerseyside Dementia Friendly RadioLiverpool

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

LicenseeService nameArea
High Peak One Radio CICHigh Peak 1Glossop and Buxton
Torbay Hospital RadioTorbay Hospital RadioTorbay

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) which have ceased to be licensed in this period

LicenseeService nameReason
Tyneside Community Digital Community Interest Company LtdTogether RadioSurrendered x2

Analogue Commercial Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A seven year renewal has been granted to the following:

AreaService nameCurrent Licensee
North Wales CoastCapitalMarcher Radio Group Limited

A ten year renewal has been granted to the following:

AreaService nameCurrent Licensee
Greater LondonHeartGlobal Radio London Limited
LeicesterCapitalLeicester Sound Ltd

Local radio licence transfers

Ofcom has approved the transfer of the following local commercial licences:

AreaService namePrevious LicenseeNew Licensee
Oxford/South OxfordshireJack FMJack Media Oxfordshire LimitedBauer Media Audio Limited acting as a general partner for Bauer Media Audio LP
OxfordJack 2Jack Media Oxfordshire LimitedBauer 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 nameLocation
Sunshine RadioLudlow and South Shropshire

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

LicenseeService nameReason
Global Radio LimitedGold LondonSurrender
Global Radio Media Management LimitedSmooth Radio (Sussex)Surrender

Analogue Community Radio

Licence extensions granted in this period

A five year extension has been granted to the following:

Service nameLicenseeLocationNew expiry date
Carillon Wellbeing RadioCarillon Wellbeing LimitedCoalville16 December 2028
Radio TircoedTircoed Village TrustSwansea North-West30 November 2028

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

Service nameLicenseeLocationReason
Radio Ramadan 365Noah’s Ark GlasgowGlasgowSurrender
Back to top