But the compression and efficiency of Digital Audio Broadcasting make it possible to squeeze up to ten radio stations into a single frequency and to deliver them in improved, interference free sound quality.
Many new broadcasters are interested in taking advantage of this new technology by setting up radio stations to broadcast on DAB digital radio. So, how does it work?
- DAB stations are broadcast via a multiplex using terrestrial transmitters. A multiplex is a collection of audio and data services "bundled" into a single frequency. The average multiplex has 1.2 megabits of usable capacity which allows for around 8 or 9 stations (depending upon how many kilobits are assigned to each station).
- There are national, regional and local multiplexes around the country that are licensed to operators by Ofcom www.ofcom.org.uk
- When Ofcom advertises a new licence in a new region, companies interested in operating the multiplex submit their applications and a non-refundable fee of between £1,000 and £25,000.
- A few months later Ofcom announces which company has won the licence. That company then seeks out a mix of radio stations to fulfil its application obligation to Ofcom. In reality, the operator often comprises a consortium of existing radio groups and will assign one or more of the available slots to its own stations. The existing local BBC station is always guaranteed another of the slots. The operator will then often advertise for new stations to fill the remaining slots on the multiplex.
- If you wish to broadcast a new radio station on either an existing or newly advertised multiplex, you should contact the multiplex operator directly. Be aware that there will be a fee to broadcast on the platform.
Contact a Multiplex Operator
| Digital One | National commercial |
info@digitalone.co.uk |
| ||
| Switchdigital | Local Aberdeen Regional Central Scotland Local London II |
utvdab@utvradio.co.uk |
| ||
| CE Digital Ltd | Local Birmingham Local London I Local Manchester |
gordon.mcarthur@emap.com |
| ||
| Now Digital | Local Bournemouth Local Bristol & Bath Local Coventry Local Exeter & Torbay Local Leicester Local Peterborough Local Southend & Chelmsford Local Swindon & West Wiltshire Local Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury & Telford Local Norwich Local Nottingham Local Reading & Basingstoke Local Plymouth & Cornwall Cambridge Local Cardiff & Newport Local South Hampshire Local Sussex Coast Local Kent Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire & Buckinghamshire* Derbyshire* Northamptonshire* Oxfordshire* |
ash.elford@gcapmedia.com |
| *Launch date TBA | ||
| ||
| MXR | Regional North East England Regional North West England Regional S Wales & Severn Estuary Regional West Midlands Regional Yorkshire |
enquiries@mxrdigital.co.uk |
| ||
| Digital Radio Group | Local London III |
ash.elford@gcapmedia.com |
| ||
| Arqiva | Local Ayr |
|
| ||
| Emap Digital Radio |
Local Dundee & Perth Local Edinburgh Local Glasgow Local Inverness Local Northern Ireland Local Leeds Local Liverpool Local South Yorkshire Local Teesside Local Tyne & Wear Local Humberside Local Central Lancashire |
gordon.mcarthur@emap.com |
| ||
| UTV-Emap Digital Ltd. | Local Swansea Local Stoke on Trent Local Bradford/Huddersfield |
utvdab@utvradio.co.uk |
| ||
| MuxCo | Wrexham & Chester* Hereford & Worcester* North Yorkshire* |
contact@muxco.com |
| *Launch date TBA | ||
| ||