DAB local radio gaps
Brian Butterworth 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.
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.
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.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 FMBBC 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.Help with TV/radio stations?
In this section
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
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Mike Dimmick12:05 PM
michael: The BBC are reserved space for each local radio station covered by each local multiplex. They must wait for the commercial operators to launch their multiplex, and to extend service by adding new transmitters. The law doesn't actually say that the BBC is not allowed to bid, nor does the Royal Charter, but practically speaking, there are already licensees for all of the areas that the ITC and, subsequently, Ofcom have chosen to offer. The problem is that they haven't launched, and those that have launched haven't matched coverage. This is despite the Broadcasting Act 1996 section 49(1):
"In exercising their powers to grant local radio multiplex licences, the Authority shall reserve to the BBC such digital capacity as the Authority consider appropriate in all the circumstances with a view to enabling every BBC local radio service and every BBC radio service for Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland to be received in digital form within a coverage area which, so far as reasonably practicable, corresponds with the coverage area for that service as provided otherwise than in digital form."
The operative words there are probably 'reasonably practicable'. The multiplex operators simply don't want to spend any more money than they are compelled to, as long as there is enough ad revenue coming in (same problem, of course, as the commercial TV multiplexes). The BBC has no power to require extension of coverage and won't want to - possibly isn't allowed to - fund an extension from which the commercial services will benefit.
The government will have to accept that to achieve a radio switchover, they must *require* the multiplexes to extend their coverage. Until they introduce that mandate, and probably offer some funding, it won't happen.
There is no great social benefit to a digital radio switchover - the FM band isn't really crowded enough to stop new community radio stations launching, and there is no other practical purpose for that radio spectrum.
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... I was under the impression that both the BBC and Goverment have accepted these changes - Ofcom | Annex B. Local DAB build-out plans - to the DAB network.
This includes the closing of the four "regional multiplexes" - Four regional DAB multiplexes to close in 2013 to allow for better local DAB | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice .
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michael 5:50 PM
The "bottom line" remains current, projected and experienced coverage in fringe areas. When DAB radios equal AM/FM radios in terms of reception,
portability, cost and running costs, DAB will triumph. In the wider context, I received an encouraging, balanced response from BBC Radio Devon:
Thank you for writing to Matt Woodley at BBC Radio Devon about our MW service. I have made a copy of your note which we will keep on file for future discussion about our frequencies. I agree that the 801 [kHz]output is a well-used and important part of our service to those living in Devon's rural communities and while there are no alternatives on FM or DAB, potentially turning off MW is something we need to review carefully. Please be assured that we are taking this matter very seriously and discussions continue.
Mark Grinnell | Editor, BBC Radio Devon
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Friday, 3 May 2013
BBC Norfolk has no DAB in West Norfolk and apparently no current plans for it. 873kHz MW from West Lynn remains the strongest transmitter. 104.4MHz coverage is not great.
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MJ Ray: The plans for Norfolk are here - http://stakeholders.ofcom….pdf
There will be new transmitters at Massingham, Daffy Green, Bexwell and Diss, and upgrades at Kings Lynn, Norwich Central and Wells next the Sea.
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Tuesday, 7 May 2013
Thanks for that briantist - I've not seen that before. 83% coverage, with dead spots in all the western towns (Kings Lynn, Downham Market, Hunstanton, Swaffham) and all along the western fringe. So West Lynn 873 MW is probably going to remain popular. I guess the fear of lousing up Leicester is why they're planning to use the so-called Kings Lynn (actually Sandringham, behind a hill from the eastern part of the town) instead of the obvious current site at West Lynn.
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michael7:04 PM
MJRay : I fear your observations could be replicated nationwide. Is your MW service shortlisted for the guillotine? Our BBC local radio on MW reaches parts FM does not reach, but both are under chop-threat. DAB only covers those living within view of the mast. They understand not that we plebs further afield cannot read, so are dependent on real wireless... Online is cosy when iPlayer download throttling and BT exchange vicissitudes permit - but not nearly as glitch-free and portable as the ubiquitous AM/FM radio of yore.
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Monday, 13 May 2013
michael : I've not seen any plan to cut the West Lynn transmitter. Online isn't cosy: the "iPlayer radio" just doesn't work on most devices, thanks to the uniquely stupid way they've tried to lock it down - compared to ILR which mostly have free mp3 streams online.
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michael7:44 PM
MJRay : Even when/if DAB reaches "its full potential" and equals FM coverage, it is unlikely to offer better coverage than AM. Where FM or DAB remains below par, even a low-fi AM signal spiced up with some snap-crackle-pop is preferable to nothing. Online is brilliant for world-wide listening, but a last resort for national and local listening - and does not compare with the portability of AM or FM or even DAB. It is well to write to the BBC, MPs, local media and authorities to ensure that AM for all is not guillotined in favour of DAB for the few and the shareholder portfolios...
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Saturday, 12 October 2013
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Stephen Lee1:38 PM
Belper
When will BBC radio Derby start broadcasting on DAB? The FM reception on portable radios on both the local frequencies here in Belper is very poor
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Stephen's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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