Ofcom has today awarded small-scale
DAB multiplex licences for three more UK areas.
Small-scale DAB is an innovative technology which provides a
low-cost way for local commercial, community and specialist music
services to take to the digital airwaves.
Following a competitive process, where each applicant was judged
against specific criteria, multiplex licences have been awarded
for the following areas:
-
Carlisle & Penrith: licence awarded
to Cumbria Digital.
-
Corby & Kettering: licence awarded to
Kettering and Corby Broadcasting Company.
-
East Devon: licence awarded to ExeDAB.
Further licence awards for the remaining areas that were
advertised in Round 6 will be announced in the coming weeks.
Consultation on coverage change
We are also consulting on varying
the licence to provide the Newcastle & Gateshead small-scale
multiplex.
This licence was awarded to Tyneside Community Digital C.I.C
(TCD) in June 2021 and launched in July 2022.
TCD has applied to vary its licence to improve it coverage, most
notably in Blaydon and parts of Newcastle city centre.
Provisional plans suggest this would increase coverage of around
78,000 listeners, representing a 16% increase for the multiplex.
No listeners are anticipated to lose coverage under the revised
plan.
We are minded to approve this application from TCD and are
consulting on this view. The closing-date for responding to this
consultation is Tuesday 13 May 2025.
