UK

YourFM has confirmed it will be applying for the Portadown & Craigavon small-scale DAB multiplex licence.
The community radio station has been broadcasting on FM since June 2015 and now says it wants to expand onto DAB.
It has partnered with a neighbouring community radio station in Newry to create a not-for-profit multiplex offering low-cost carriage and free carriage for the four C-DSP services it would host.
The team has already recruited a wide variety of services which will join the two community stations including pop-rock station Eirewave, youth station Blast106, Christian station Sunshine 1049, a new American Country station ABC Country and a local pop-up station Bannside Radio to be used by local schools and community groups to broadcast for themselves.
Director Niall O Corrain said: “We have worked hard to build a dedicated listenership to YourFM and now we wish to go digital to future-proof the station while at the same time facilitate a transformation in the local broadcast offering.
“We have brought in experienced people with a proven track record in delivering SSDAB projects in Northern Ireland to ensure the multiplexes success.”
ABC Community SSDAB has ambitious plans to launch as early as six months if it is awarded the licence due to the preparations made in the last three months.
Sean Og Mac Braoin, who launched the Lagan DAB serving the cities of Belfast and Lisburn, has been brought on-board to assist with the application and bring the multiplex to launch. He commented: “Portadown & Craigavon is a great location for a DAB+ multiplex.
“It is a vibrant ambitious community with some of Northern Ireland’s largest employers in the Carn & Seagoe industrial complexes and despite political tensions in the past has come through that with a positivity that deserves a better offering of radio stations to serve a very diverse demographic.
“If awarded the licence we are ready to go with our sites and infrastructure and would envisage launching within 6-9 months.”
ABC Community SSDAB are keen to hear from other stations which may wish to join the Mux – email abcssdab@email.com for details. […]

Community station Corby Radio has announced plans to apply for the small-scale DAB digital radio multiplex for Corby and Kettering.
The area is part of Round 6, which has a closing date of tomorrow, July 18th at 5pm.
The station says it would like to hear from anyone before 2pm today who is interested in being part of the application.
Des Barber, Founder and Station Manager of Corby Radio said: “From my days on AM with KCBC, I’ve seen progress to FM, and now to Digital Technologies.
“Corby Radio has always harnessed these developments for the enrichment of our community.
“It is hoped that the result of the application will be known by the end of the year and the service will go on-air in 2025.”
Contact des.barber@corby.radio for more details about being involved in the Corby and Kettering bid. […]

Hospital station WWL Radio is re-applying for the Wigan small-scale DAB licence.

A licence for the town was awarded by Ofcom to Wigan & St Helens Community Media CIC, but was revoked after it failed to launch within 18 months.
It was backed by a local arts centre which had a change in financial circumstances and pulled the plug on the DAB project.
Now, Wigan DAB, which was the ‘runner up’ for the original licence, is applying again under the consortium made up of Kevin Riley of WWL (previously known as Wrightington Hospital Radio) with the help of Niocast Digital, local broadcasters Darren Ofsarnie and Phil England plus long-standing senior radio executives Chris Hurst and Ron Smith.
WWL has been broadcasting to the area’s three hospitals since the 1970s with initial sports broadcasts dating back to the early 50s.
Kevin Riley, station secretary says: “We are looking forward to developing a DAB platform for the residents of Wigan and St Helens. WWL has for some time recognised its community of interest goes beyond the hospitals themselves as outpatient services have expanded significantly over the years.
“small-scale DAB gives us a great opportunity to broadcast to that wider community and develop our service not least in the provision of positive health messaging we already hold the necessary CDSP licence. Alongside our own station we aim to deliver a rich and diverse range of radio services for the area.”
With a population of nearly 600,000, anyone interested in adding a radio service to the Wigan Multiplex is invited to make contact via the website WiganDAB.co.uk. […]

Walsall community station Ambur Radio is leading an application for the small-scale DAB multiplex in Walsall.
Walsall DAB Ltd has been established by Ambur Radio station director Priya Singh with the help of Niocast Digital, West Midlands community radio station WCR fm, and long standing senior radio executive Chris Hurst.
The collaboration brings together a unique combination of skills, local knowledge, radio experience and a real passion for Walsall.
“Ambur Radio launched in 2009 and has been a very popular multicultural station ever since broadcasting in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Bengali, Gujrati amongst other” says Priya.
“And we’ve been planning the move to DAB for some time now. We’re looking forward to the quality that DAB will deliver and being able to reach lots more listeners.”
With a population of nearly 400,000, anyone interested in adding a radio service to the Walsall Multiplex is invited to make contact via the website WalsallDAB.co.uk […]

UlsterMUX has launched a small scale DAB Service across Newry, Armagh, and Down Newry in Northern Ireland using ten transmitters.
Operating on DAB Block 9c, UlsterMUX has constructed a network of transmission sites to deliver coverage from Dromore to Banbridge and extending to the City of Newry and beyond to the border at Dundalk.
The service will also encompass Castlewellan, Kilkeel, Warrenpoint, Crossmaglen, and Forkhill, making it the largest small scale DAB network in operation across the UK to date.
Radio stations on the network so far include Bounce Digital (Banbridge) and Lisburn Live, as well as a Newry based Country and Irish music station WILD.
Radio Caroline will also be on board, commemorating its 60-year legacy in the area of its conception in 1964.
Additionally, listeners can look forward to a specialist station catering to the Punjabi community, a dedicated rock/pop station for Northern Ireland, Eirewave, and a nostalgic 70s, 80s, and 90s Rewind music service which will become very festive from November.
“We are thrilled to bring this innovative DAB service to the region, enhancing radio accessibility and diversity for our communities,” said John Gartlan, CTO of UlsterMUX.
“Our extensive network ensures excellent coverage and provides a new platform for stations to connect with audiences in Newry, Armagh, Down, and beyond.”
Olivier Mauxion, owner of one of the stations on the network, Eirewave, expressed his excitement: “I would like to extend a special thanks to John Gartlan for his exceptional work. His dedication to delivering high-quality audio and his openness to our requests for metadata and our quirky ideas have been invaluable.
“This new coverage is a pivotal step for Eirewave as we continue to grow in Northern Ireland. Our enhanced reach on DAB+ will enable more listeners to enjoy our programmes without interruption. We are committed to engaging with all the multiplexes that will open in Northern Ireland in the future.”
For further information, visit ulstermux.com or contact info@ulstermux.com. […]

Dr Hilary Jones has joined forces with Radio News Hub to launch his first-ever radio show.

The 30-minute weekly programme will be supported by Healthspan and starts on July 25th free of charge to all existing clients.
As the Health Editor for ITV’s Good Morning Britain and Lorraine, Dr Hilary is a household name who is dedicated to helping millions understand the most important health stories of our time.
Dr Hilary Jones says: “I know how important it is for people to get the right advice that can help improve their health and their happiness.
“There is so much information, news and content available to us that it can be hard to know what to trust and what is relevant for individuals and their loved ones.
“So, in addition to my work with ITV, my new show will see me act as a guide through the stories and topics that matter most to us all. I will be bringing together leading experts and people with lived experience to help unpack the most important health and medical topics.
“It will also be a fun show though, filled with uplifting and hopeful stories, and we will be hearing how life’s ups and downs have impacted the health and wellbeing of some of the country’s best- known celebrities. Come and join me!”
To find out more about how you can sign up, get in touch via the Radio News Hub website. […]