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DAB local radio gaps

Whilst most of the country does have operating local radio digital services, there is now a dispute about who is expected to provide them for the 2015 radio switchover target.

Whilst most of the country does have operating local radio digi
published on UK Free TV

There are some areas with no operating local DAB multiplex - this means that there are no local commercial radio stations on DAB, and also no BBC services.

The provision of these multiplexes was intended to be provided by commercial operators, but there has been a recent DAB promotion dispute due to some radio stations wanting the BBC to operate the multiplexes.

It should be noted that the commercial operators may wish the BBC to do this, but the BBC would require approval of the BBC Trust and Ofcom, and of course the money would need to come from somewhere.

Here is a list of the areas concerned:

England

BBC Radio Cumbria

No plans for DAB service exist, currently on 95.6 FM, 96.1 FM and 104.1 FM.

BBC Radio York

Planed to be on the not-yet-operating North Yorkshire (North West) commercial radio multiplex, currently on 103.7 FM and 95.5 FM.

BBC Radio Lincolnshire

Planned to be on the not-yet-operating Lincolnshire commercial radio multiplex, currently on 94.9 FM and 104.7 FM.

BBC Radio Derby

Planned to be carried on the Derbyshire commercial radio multiplex, currently on 104.5 FM, 95.3 FM and 96 FM.

BBC Hereford & Worcester

To be carried on the Hereford and Worcester commercial radio multiplex, when operational. Analogue services on 104 FM and 94.7 FM.

BBC Radio Northampton

Will be carried on the Northamptonshire multiplex when operational, currently on 104.2 FM and 103.6 FM.

Places without BBC local radio on DAB

BBC Three Counties Radio

To be carried on the Herts, Beds+Bucks commercial multiplex when operational, current services on 95.5 FM, 103.8 FM and 104.5 FM.

BBC Radio Suffolk

No plans for DAB service to replace 95.5 FM and 104.6 FM

BBC Radio Surrey

To be carried on two commercial multiplexes, Guildford and Surrey+North Sussex, when operational, currently analogue on 104 FM and 104.6 FM.

BBC Radio Oxford

Planned for carriage on the Oxfordshire commercial multiplex, when operational, on 95.2 FM currently.

BBC Radio Gloucestershire

Planned to be carried on the Gloucestershire commercial multiplex, when operating. Currently broadcast on 104.7 FM and 1413 AM.

BBC Radio Somerset

No plans to supplement 95.5 FM and1566 AM currently.

Channel Islands

BBC Guernsey

No plans to add digital services to 93.2 FM and 1116 AM.

BBC Jersey

No plans to add digital services to 88.8 FM and 1026 MW.

Wales

BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru

Operating on Cardiff+Newport and Swansea multiplexes, but both radio stations awaiting three commercial multiplexes to be operating: Mid+West Wales, NE Wales+Chester and North Wales to complete coverage.

Northern Ireland

Radio Foyle

Running six month DAB test service in addition to 93.1 FM and 792 MW.

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Comments
Monday, 17 January 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

7:50 AM

Nice to see the Luddites can sort out a book.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
N
Nedbod
sentiment_satisfiedGold

11:25 PM

Doesn't look like the BBC will have enough dosh to flood Britain with DAB transmitters after all, giving poorer sound quality than the current FM broadcasts. They are so strapped for cash they are now butchering the BBC World Service : 5 language networks going and a quater of their staff. Is this just the beginning I ask myself.

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Nedbod's 619 posts GB flag
N
Nedbod
sentiment_satisfiedGold

11:36 PM

make that a quarter !!

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Nedbod's 619 posts GB flag
P
Pete
sentiment_satisfiedGold

11:38 PM

Why are people who strive to have the best quality sound broadcasts Luddites Brian ?

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Pete's 452 posts GB flag
P
Pete
sentiment_satisfiedGold

11:43 PM

PS : Nice to hear the BBC WORLD SERVICE in (((( STEREO )))) on BBC Radio 4 FM last night (albeit recorded using my trusty old plug timer) as opposed to BBC WORLD SERVICE's own DAB channel which is in MONO of course.

Even on Freeview and on line BBC World Service is in mono but on BBC Radio 4 it's in stereo, with different sounds coming out of each speaker (the acid test).

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Pete's 452 posts GB flag
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

8:22 AM

Nedbod: I'm sure I've explained this before. The World Service is funded by grand-in-aid from the Foreign Office, and this is being cut.

The money for the DAB upgrade is already budgeted for as part of the Licence Fee settlement.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

8:23 AM

Pete: I'm not. I am saying that people who wish to deny choice to other people are Luddites.

If you want the top quality service, listen online.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

8:24 AM

Pete: Or, you can listen to the World Service online in stereo whenever you wish. Go to BBC World Service - Home and click on the button.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
N
Nedbod
sentiment_satisfiedGold

11:16 PM

Sadly I cannot listen on line in the car, nor when I'm out walking in the Peak District, but in both locations I would still like to hear LIVE radio in the best quality possible, with a decent signal and without spending a fortune on batteries in the case of my pocket DAB radio.

Are you sure Wor;d Service is in stereo on line, it wasn't a few weeks ago ?

I do not really wish to deny choice to anyone, unless we get to the point where there are so many trashy TV channels the picture quality of the good main ones has to suffer. I think the planning of digital TV & radio leaves a lot to be desired however. I also hate seeing established services lose sound and/or picture quality which is a huge mistake when you are trying to pursuade people to embrace the new technology, which in the case of radio I did in the very early days only to hear it decline.

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Nedbod's 619 posts GB flag
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Briantist
sentiment_very_satisfiedOwner

6:25 AM

Nedbod: Don't worry, give it a few years and the World Service will be closed.

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Briantist's 38,915 posts GB flag
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