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A typical DAB digital radio receiver with the Digital Radio Development Bureau DAB digital radio marketing logo

In the United Kingdom, the roll-out of digital radio has been proceeding since engineering test transmissions were started by the BBC in 1990 followed by a public launch in September 1995. The UK currently has one of the world's biggest digital radio networks, with about 500 transmitters, three national DAB ensembles, one regional DAB ensemble, 48 local DAB ensembles and an increasing number of small-scale DAB ensembles broadcasting over 250 commercial and 34 BBC radio stations across the UK. In London there are already more than 100 different digital stations available.[1] In addition to DAB and DAB+, radio stations are also broadcast on digital television platform as well as internet radio in the UK. Digital radio ensemble operators and stations need a broadcasting licence from the UK's media regulator Ofcom to broadcast.

In the long term there will be a switchover from analogue to digital radio when the AM and FM services will cease. The government has set criteria on the coverage and proportion of digital listening before this occurs. In 2018 the criteria of over 50% of digital radio listening was met which will now require the UK Government to review digital radio in view of a potential switchover.[2] In the same year, the BBC stated it would keep some FM radio for the foreseeable future.[3]

Digital radio in the United Kingdom is being promoted by radio stations and the broadcasting industry on the premise that it provides superior quality sound over AM, a wider choice of radio stations, is easier to use, and is resistant to the interference which other broadcast media are susceptible to.[4] On the other hand, critics say that coverage is not yet sufficient and the quality can be less than that of FM.

In the UK, 65.8% of all radio listening hours by the third quarter of 2021 were through digital platforms, with DAB making up the majority of digital radio listening (65.3% of digital radio listening).[5] In the first quarter of 2020, 66.7% of UK people aged 15+ claimed to have access to a DAB radio set at home.[6]

Digital Audio Broadcasting

See also: Digital Audio Broadcasting, List of radio stations in the United Kingdom, DAB ensemble, and Timeline of Digital Audio Broadcasting in the UK

Experimental transmissions of the DAB Eureka 147 standard from the Crystal Palace transmitting station by the BBC started in 1990[7] with permanent transmissions covering London in September 1995.[8] With the expansion of its single-frequency network in the spring of 1998,[9] the BBC national ensemble was available to 65% of the UK population by 2001, 85% by 2004[10] and 96.4% by 2015.[11] DAB+ full-time broadcasts began in 2016.[citation needed]

The Broadcasting Act of 1996 allowed the introduction of national, regional and local commercial ensembles in the United Kingdom.[12]

The first national ensemble licence for DAB from the Radio Authority was advertised in 1998 and one applicant applied for the licence. The licence was awarded to the GWR Group and NTL Broadcast, who since the launch were renamed Arqiva.[13] The two companies formed the Digital One ensemble, which began broadcasting on 15 November 1999.[14] The Digital One ensemble has grown and is currently available to over 90% of the UK population[15] although an Ofcom report into Digital Radio in 2015 puts robust household coverage at 89.8% of the UK.[11]

Growth and benefits of DAB in the UK

Chart showing the listening share of the United Kingdom's digital radio platforms – DAB(+), digital TV and online through a device or smartphone/tablet app

In the United Kingdom, the uptake of DAB has increased since the launch of the BBC national DAB ensemble in 1995. Lower prices, new radio stations and marketing have increased the uptake of DAB radio in the UK.[16] Digital radios were first sold as car radios in 1997, priced around £800, with hi-fi tuners costing up to £2,000 being released two years later.[10] In 2001, Digital One invested in Frontier Silicon to produce a new processing chip which would allow cheaper portable radios to be produced. Roberts Radio, Goodmans and in 2002, Pure Digital's award-winning[17] Evoke series of radios broke the £100 price barrier, and DAB take up has increased since.[10]

The BBC and other DAB broadcasters have been encouraging DAB take up by promoting a number of features which are either new or improve upon former technology in their sales literature. The benefit of DAB is that due to the use of multiplexing technology and encoding technology, broadcasters including the BBC and EMAP have been able to launch exclusive digital radio stations alongside their existing analogue radio stations.[18][19] Broadcasters also state that DAB offers better reception, without the problems of interference that are more noticeable through analogue radio.[20] DAB radios also come with features such as station lists, so listeners do not need to retune their receivers, as well as scrolling text, providing information such as breaking news, travel information or the latest track information.[20]

DAB has also been marketed as having two major advantages over analogue radio broadcasting in that using MPEG-1 Audio Layer II lossy audio compression technology and more recently DAB+ using High-Efficiency Advanced Audio Coding, parts of the audio spectrum that cannot be heard by humans are discarded, meaning less data needs to be sent over the air. This, as well as multiplexing technology, allows a number of channels to be broadcast together on one frequency as opposed to one channel for analogue radio broadcasts.[21]

National, local and regional DAB ensembles use the same frequency for the area they cover. Using a single-frequency network, an ensemble broadcasting a number of stations can cover the same area as a number of VHF frequencies which would be required to cover the same area for one station. The BBC carried out successful tests of a single-frequency network in London before launching its national DAB ensemble.[22]

Criticism of DAB Multiplex Operators

DAB audibly, in some cases, provides worse audio quality than FM – perhaps due to greed of Multiplex Operators wishing to create more services within the same bandwidth; by using very low bitrates. In 2020, most commercial stations use only 32–64 kbps (DAB+ with HE-AAC codec) while those stations maintaining the old DAB standard (MP2) have switched to mono with 64–80 kbps.[1] A bit rate of 256 kbps (MP2) has been judged to provide a high quality stereo broadcast signal. The bit rates used by the radio stations on cable and satellite are usually higher. Many internet radio streams also use low bitrates but with MP3 rather than MP2 – providing better audio quality at the same reduced bandwidth (bit rate). On the other hand, an Ofcom survey, which was undertaken due to many consultation responses citing poor DAB quality, found that 94% of DAB listeners thought DAB was at least as good as FM.[23]

In 2006, Ofcom estimated that even after extra spectrum has been allocated to DAB, around 90 local radio stations will be unable to transmit on DAB, either because there is no space for them on a local DAB multiplex, or because they cannot afford the high transmission costs of DAB that the multiplex operators are charging.[24] Ofcom announced in 2005 that it regarded Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) as an option for local stations unable to secure carriage or unable to pay the high transmission costs of DAB.[25]

On 24 January 2009, Ofcom allowed electrical retailers to be granted a licence to rebroadcast DAB signals within their stores to demonstrate DAB radio sets. The United Kingdom consumer charity, Which? warned that consumers who could not get an adequate DAB signal could be misled by the in-store sets. The Digital Radio Development Bureau replied to the Which? report stating that stores contain a steel structure which produce a Faraday cage effect where DAB signals are blocked out. The DRDB recommended that consumers should check DAB coverage online with their postcode before purchasing a DAB radio to avoid disappointment.[26]

On 24 November 2010, a number of commercial radio operators refused to run an advertisement promoting DAB, one operator stating that it would be "fundamentally immoral and dishonest" until DAB coverage matches that of FM. Commercial radio executives have argued that the BBC should pick up the majority of the cost of expanding the DAB network across the United Kingdom.[27]

DAB+

A DAB+ transmission of Virgin Radio Anthems on the Sound Digital multiplex in the UK, being received by a compatible radio
Main article: Digital Audio Broadcasting § DAB+

DAB+ is a major upgrade to DAB. It is not backwards compatible. The main difference is the use of the more efficient HE-AAC which doubles the number of stations up to about 20 in one bouquet. Most European countries quickly adopted DAB+ between 2015 and 2019. Only a small number of DAB-only receivers had been sold before which became worthless. In the UK, with the early success of DAB, the situation is different. In 2020, about half of the stations use DAB+, mostly new services, while the BBC and the big commercial stations continue to use the old DAB standard. DAB+ was first tested in the United Kingdom in 2013 before regular services were launched in 2016. The United Kingdom Government had previously ruled out any transition from DAB to DAB+ for the foreseeable future, a decision backed by the radio industry and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.[28] The chief executive of the DRDB, Tony Moretta, mirrored the calls by the radio industry and experts not to adopt DAB+ in the UK. In an interview with the TechRadar website in 2009, he claimed that DAB+ was a "red herring" and may not be introduced in the UK for the foreseeable future due to the growing number of digital radio sets currently being sold and used in the future which cannot decode and therefore access DAB+ stations.[29][30] Independent radio analyst Grant Goddard also stated that there was an economic decision not to adopt DAB+ for both the industry and consumers.[28]

Despite opposition aired to the government regarding the introduction of DAB+ in the United Kingdom by the industry and experts, Ofcom began testing DAB+ on the Brighton Experimental ensemble in January 2013 for a period of one month.[31] In March 2014, the BBC announced that it would undertake a trial of DAB+ in the UK later in the year[32] and on 1 September 2014, Folder Media began a four-month trial of DAB+ on the North East Wales and West Cheshire ensemble.[33]

In early 2016, two new stations launched DAB+ services on the Portsmouth trial multiplex.[34] Sound Digital, operators of one of the national multiplexes, launched three full-time broadcasting DAB+ services on 29 February 2016.[35] Since then a number of stations have launched on DAB+ or switched from DAB to DAB+. As of September 2016, there were over 30 DAB+ stations being broadcast in the UK.[36] In March 2017 the Brighton multiplex became the UK's first to only broadcast DAB+.[37]

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport published minimum specifications for digital radio receivers in the UK in February 2013 which states that a receiver sold in the UK must be capable of decoding a DAB+ stream of up to 144 capacity units.[nb 1][38] Radios must support DAB+ to receive the digital tick mark.[39] However this is not mandatory and many retailers continue to sell DAB receivers that do not support DAB+.

DAB frequency plan

DAB radio stations in the United Kingdom are broadcast on a number of frequency blocks on VHF Band III.[40] The original plan devised in Wiesbaden for the framework of DAB in Europe was to allocate frequency blocks 11B to 12D for UK DAB broadcasting. However, as part of its Review of Radio, Ofcom has expanded the frequency allocations for DAB and has advertised local and a national ensemble licence on blocks outside the original Wiesbaden plan on 10B to 10D and 11A.[41] Block 5A has also been reserved for the launch of local ensembles.[42] In 2015, additional blocks were opened up for small scale DAB trials for an initial period of nine months.[43] Ofcom reiterated the use of a number of frequency blocks between 7D and 9C for any future roll-out of small scale DAB multiplexes in its final report regarding the small scale DAB multiplexes published in September 2016.[44] The first permanent Small Scale DAB licensed were advertised during 2021 with the trial licenses being awarded to the trial licensees. [45]

VHF Band III

United Kingdom
VHF Band III

sub-band

Block Frequency England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland
1 5A 174.928 MHz Local ensembles (not currently in use) None None None
2 7D 194.064 MHz Small scale DAB Small scale DAB Small scale DAB Small scale DAB
8A 195.936 MHz Small scale DAB Small scale DAB Small scale DAB Small scale DAB
8B 197.648 MHz Small scale DAB Small scale DAB Small scale DAB Small scale DAB
9A 202.928 MHz Small scale DAB Small scale DAB Small scale DAB Small scale DAB
9B 204.640 MHz Small scale DAB Small scale DAB Small scale DAB Small scale DAB
9C 206.352 MHz Small scale DAB Small scale DAB Small scale DAB Small scale DAB
3 10B 211.648 MHz Local ensembles; small scale DAB Small scale DAB Small scale DAB Small scale DAB
10C 213.360 MHz Local ensembles None None None
10D 215.072 MHz Local ensembles; small scale DAB Local ensembles; small scale DAB None None
11A 216.928 MHz Sound Digital ensemble Sound Digital ensemble Sound Digital ensemble Sound Digital ensemble
11B 218.640 MHz Local ensembles None Local ensembles None
11C 220.352 MHz Local ensembles; small scale DAB None Local ensembles Small scale DAB
11D 222.064 MHz Digital One ensemble Digital One ensemble Local and regional ensembles Digital One ensemble
12A 223.936 MHz Local ensembles[nb 2] Local ensembles (except West Wales) Digital One ensemble None
12B 225.648 MHz BBC National DAB ensemble BBC National DAB ensemble BBC National DAB ensemble BBC National DAB ensemble
12C 227.360 MHz Local ensembles (except the south coast)[nb 3] Local ensembles[nb 4] Local ensembles None
12D 229.072 MHz Local ensembles (except the south coast); small scale DAB Local ensembles Local ensembles Local ensembles
Crown Dependencies

The frequency plan and usage of DAB for the crown dependencies of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are co-ordinated and administered by the United Kingdom's media regulator Ofcom. The Isle of Man ensemble is granted a broadcasting licence from the Communications and Utilities Regulatory Authority.[46]

VHF Band III sub-band Block Frequency Channel Islands Isle of Man
3 11C 220.352MHz None Local ensemble
12A 223.936MHz Local ensemble None
12B 225.648MHz BBC National DAB ensemble BBC National DAB ensemble

L Band

Under a Maastricht plan in 2002, the UK also has L band allocations for local terrestrial DAB,[47] though there are no plans to broadcast any digital radio stations on L band. Ofcom auctioned spectrum in L band in 2008 for a number of uses, including terrestrial digital radio.[48] On 16 May 2008, Ofcom declared that Qualcomm UK Spectrum Ltd had won the auction of L band frequencies in the UK.[49]

BBC National DAB

The BBC's national DAB ensemble broadcasts on frequency block 12B (225.648 MHz) across the United Kingdom,[50] with coverage currently at 96.4% of UK households.[11] The multiplex is owned and operated by the BBC and is transmitted from a number of transmitter sites across the country. The BBC's national multiplex carries only BBC national radio stations. Local BBC radio stations are carried on the relevant local DAB ensemble where commercial DAB licences are operating.[51]

Commercial DAB multiplexes

There are a number of commercial DAB multiplexes operators in the UK who run 48 local and regional DAB multiplexes across the United Kingdom. operators include the two national operators, Digital One and Sound Digital as well as local multiplex operators including NOW Digital, Bauer Media Group, Wireless Group, Switch Digital and MuxCo. Local and regional ensembles cover 77.8% of UK households.[11]

Small scale DAB multiplexes

An increasing number of small scale DAB multiplexes broadcast in a number of areas across the UK. From what began with ten trial multiplexes (London, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol, Portsmouth, Norwich, Brighton, Cambridge and Aldershot) with initially a nine-month trial, extended to March 2020 by Ofcom at the request of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.[52] In March 2020, the trial licences were extended again until December 2021.[53] The trial multiplexes have mostly been replaced by permanent licences as awarded by Ofcom. By 6 October 2023 more than 230 areas had been identified for SSDAB licenses across six licensing rounds.[54]

Digital terrestrial television

Transmitters including Emley Moor (pictured) broadcast digital radio via DAB and digital terrestrial television
See also: Digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom

Digital radio on the digital terrestrial platform started on 30 October 2002[nb 5] with the launch of the BBC's digital only radio services, BBC 1Xtra, BBC Five Live Sports Extra, BBC 6 Music, BBC 7 and the BBC Asian Network, as well as existing stations BBC Radio Five Live and the BBC World Service. All the stations broadcast on the BBC's multiplex B.

On the same day EMAP Radio (now owned by Bauer Radio) launched three radio stations, Smash Hits, Kerrang! and Kiss. Two other commercial radio stations also launched, oneword and Jazz FM.[55]

The BBC later launched BBC Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3 and Radio 4 FM on multiplex A on 14 February 2003.[56] These channels later moved to Multiplex 1 on 3 October 2007.[57]

As of May 2022, the digital terrestrial platform has 28 radio stations broadcasting nationally from broadcasters including the BBC, Bauer Radio, Global Radio, and Wireless Group, as well as numerous BBC local stations.[58]

Digital satellite radio

Unlike North America, the UK does not have a commercial satellite radio service.

There are radio stations broadcasting via Satellite to the United Kingdom, however these are aimed at home users for playback through their televisions since these same satellites are also used for television broadcast and usually use SES' Astra series of satellites at 28.2° east or the Eutelsat 28A satellite at 28.5° east. Radio stations broadcast free-to-air via the Sky Digital, Freesat from Sky platforms and any DVB-S compliant set-top box.[59] The Freesat platform has all the BBC's national and regional digital radio stations as well as BBC London 94.9 from the launch on 6 May 2008 on the EPG.

WorldSpace was planning a subscription based digital radio satellite service on the upper frequencies of the L band,[60][61] however, Qualcomm beat WorldSpace in 2008, securing the L band frequencies in the Ofcom auction process.[49]

Digital cable television

A number of digital radio stations also broadcast through digital cable platforms, including Virgin Media and WightFibre.[62]

Internet radio

In the United Kingdom, over 350 of the UK's radio stations also stream their stations online, not including Restricted Service Licensed radio stations, Hospital radio stations and stations who solely broadcast online.[63] In total, about 2600 stations from the UK are streaming online.[64]

In 2011, the BBC and commercial radio operators launched RadioPlayer which allows over 400 radio stations to be listened to through its website and apps. In addition various radio stations and third parties allow streaming of internet radio stations through their own websites and apps. A number of British firms, including BT Group, Reciva, Pure Digital, Roberts Radio and Acoustic Energy have brought out Internet radio devices which use the Wi-Fi signal from a router to stream Internet radio stations within range of a Wi-Fi router.[65] From the latter half of the 2010s, smart speakers have increased in popularity as a device for listening to live and on demand digital radio services.[66]

RAJAR reported that in the period October 2016 to February 2017, 6% of BBC radio and 8% of commercial radio is listened to online and through apps.[67]

5G broadcast

The BBC is trialling 5G broadcast radio in the Orkney Islands[68] with the view to provide a digital radio platform across the United Kingdom and in particular, areas which will be unlikely or never covered by DAB via the existing radio and forthcoming 5G transmission infrastructure with Internet Protocol broadcasting being seen as the long term replacement for DAB.[69] The BBC's national services and the local BBC radio service, BBC Radio Orkney, is being delivered through a specially adapted BBC Sounds smartphone application to trialists. The BBC announced in May 2019 that it would extend the 5G broadcasting trial in Orkney until the end of September 2019.[70]

In 2006, the Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) announced that it would charge additional royalty fees on UK Internet radio stations if they broadcast outside the UK.[71] Radio stations which stream online including GCap Media and GMG Radio,[nb 6] have implemented IP blocking to prevent listeners outside the UK from listening to their radio stations and therefore avoided the increased fees.[71][72]

In September 2020, TuneIn lost a court case brought by Sony Music and Warner Music Group in the UK's High Court of Justice. As a result of the case, radio stations not licensed by Ofcom in the UK can no longer legally be displayed on an "audio guide service", listened or tuned into by a listener without paying a royalty payment.[73][74][75]

Digital Radio Mondiale

Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM – not to be confused with Digital Rights Management) was being considered by Ofcom for introduction in Britain in 2012, on the present MW (medium wave) band. In the present day,[when?] transmissions are limited to a small number of broadcasts by the BBC and other international broadcasters.[76]

In 2005, tests of DRM on shortwave radio from European transmitters broadcasting into the United Kingdom were performed by Virgin Radio, Classic Gold, Premier Christian Radio, Virgin Radio Classic Rock, Asian Sound and CVC.[77]

The British Broadcasting Corporation started broadcasting the BBC World Service on shortwave and mediumwave radio for a few hours a day[78] across Europe from Orford Ness in Suffolk and Kvitsøy in Norway, the latter being receivable across England, Wales and Southern Scotland.[79][80] Today, the BBC broadcasts the BBC World Service using DRM for one hour a day from the Woofferton transmitting station in Shropshire.

The BBC undertook a trial of the digital radio mondiale (DRM) technology, which allowed them to explore digital radio using medium-wave frequencies. The trial broadcast BBC Radio Devon using the new technology in the Plymouth area from April 2007[81] and closed down on 31 October 2008.[82] In May 2009, the BBC released a report on the trial in Devon. The report gave a number of conclusions about DRM from the trial:[83][84]

  • The sound quality from the trial was better than AM quality, but not as good as average DAB quality;[82]
  • The daytime coverage of the DRM trial extended further than the discontinued AM service. However, the night-time service, as expected to be smaller than daytime coverage due to the characteristics of medium wave broadcasting,[84] did cause problems with interference to the DRM trial. The BBC stated this interference can be avoided, but only with a redesign of the transmission network;[85]
  • A single frequency network is possible and would be significantly robust.[82]

Digital Multimedia Broadcasting

In 2006, National Grid Wireless carried out a technical trial of T-DMB and DAB-IP on the Stoke & Stafford (formerly UTV-EMAP/Bauer Stoke) ensemble.[86] The trial assessed the reception qualities of both technologies in urban and rural areas as well as the mobile television and radio services which could be delivered.[87]

There was an ongoing experimental DMB multiplex broadcast in London on L-Band and Cambridge on VHF Band III, used for video, audio and data applications which have since ceased.[88][89]

Analogue switch-over

The Digital Economy Act 2010 has a requirement stating that the United Kingdom must prepare for digital switchover.[90] On 29 January 2009 the UK Government's interim report into digital communication for the future by Lord Carter, Digital Britain, made the suggestion that DAB would be the future direction of digital radio in the United Kingdom. It states that only when the following conditions are met, a migration from FM to DAB would begin:

  • Digital radio listening figures hit at least 50%;
  • Coverage of national DAB matches that of FM and local DAB reaches of 90% of the population and all major roads[91]

The original Interim Report of the Digital Radio Working Group published in 2008 specified that the 50% threshold for listening figures should be based on those for DAB. This was subsequently watered down to incorporate listening via any digital platform so as to make it easier to meet the criteria.

In 2010 the government created a digital action plan which was delivered in November 2013. On 16 December 2013 they announced that "now is not the time to commit to a switchover". An updated report was released in January 2014.[92] Since 2010 Ofcom has produced annual reports on the take-up of digital radio.[93] Subsequently, in 2018 the BBC stated it would keep some FM radio for the foreseeable future.[3]

On 17 May 2018, RAJAR, the UK radio audience measurement research company for the UK radio industry published figures that stated that the UK had exceeded the threshold of 50% of radio listening was to digital radio platforms which will trigger the UK Government to begin a review of the progress of digital radio and assess future plans toward a potential digital switchover.[2]

Application and licensing

The United Kingdom media and communications regulator Ofcom (and before the formation of Ofcom, the Radio Authority) advertises and provides the licences for digital radio services in the United Kingdom, under the Broadcasting Acts of 1990 and 1996.[94]

Application and licensing procedures

Ofcom awards licences for digital radio services differently depending on the type of service and the platform.[94] Ofcom advertises the licences of new digital radio ensembles and are subject to an open competition to the highest bidder. Ensemble licence awards are awarded for twelve years. To broadcast a service on a DAB ensemble, a station must hold a Digital Sound Programme Service licence from Ofcom.[95] On digital television services, individual stations can apply for either a digital cable and satellite licence to broadcast on the aforementioned platforms,[94] or apply for a digital terrestrial licence to broadcast on digital terrestrial television.[96]

On Digital Terrestrial Television and DAB, broadcasters also need to contact the ensemble or multiplex operator of a local or national DAB ensemble or digital terrestrial multiplex to broadcast within a region.[97]

DAB ensemble operators have three elements to the charges they levy on radio services[98][99] which are subject to a minimum fixed-term and do not include any other possible one-off fees for scenarios such as a station moving its base of operations to another location:

Fee Description
Carriage Fee A fee based on the capacity units and hours broadcast that a broadcaster pays. The more capacity units a service uses and the more hours a service broadcasts for, the higher the fee.
(Telecoms) Contribution Fee A fee paid for the encoding and distribution of an audio feed to the ensemble operator. Depending on the ensemble operator, this could be charged to stations at a distance outside of the transmission area or could be charged universally.
Deposit A fee levied at the beginning of the contract agreement, non-refundable and used to pay fees in the last year of the contract period. Depending on the ensemble operator, this could be applied to new companies or companies without a long-standing trading record or it could be applied universally.

On Digital Satellite, radio stations need to secure capacity with a transponder operator and an uplink to a satellite.[100] To broadcast on the Sky platform, a broadcaster must also secure an EPG slot allowing viewers to navigate to their channel using the set-top-boxes provided by Sky. A request for an EPG slot must be done up to nine months in advance.[101] The same procedure applies to secure a slot on the Freesat platform, although stations need to contact Freesat UK Ltd instead of Sky. On Digital Cable, broadcasters need to contact a cable supplier for carriage. All stations broadcast in the UK must legally hold a music copyright licence from the Phonographic Performance Limited, PRS for Music and Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society in order for royalties to be paid to the musicians the main bodies represent.[102]

First national ensemble

Main article: Digital One

On 24 March 1998, the Radio Authority advertised for the first (and at the time, the only one planned) national ensemble to be broadcast on DAB. The three national commercial services on FM and mediumwave had to be included as part of the ensemble, Classic FM, Talksport and Virgin Radio.[103] The licence was awarded to the sole applicant, GWR Group and NTL Broadcast to form Digital One.[13] The original licence application included the following stations:[104]

Digital One Ltd (original application)
Classic FM Classical music GWR (now part of Global Radio)
Classic Gold Rock Rock music NTL
Club dance Dance music TBA
Plays, books and music Comedy, drama and serials TBA
Rolling news service Rolling news ITN
Soft AC Female contemporary music TBA
Sports channel Live sports and comment Talk Radio UK
Talk Radio (now Talksport) Talk radio Talk Radio UK (now owned by Wireless Group)
Teen and chart hits Pop and dance music GWR (now part of Global Radio)
Virgin Radio Complementary rock music SMG plc

After the closure of PrimeTime Radio in 2006, the original licence was amended to allow the launch of a new classic and contemporary jazz service, theJazz which was launched on 25 December 2006, before 31 December 2006 deadline set in the licence amendment.[105]

In April 2009, Global Radio, which had acquired GCap Media – part owner of Digital One, sold its 63% stake in the ensemble to Arqiva, making them the sole owner and operator of the ensemble.[106]

On 26 July 2013, Digital One extended its broadcasts to Northern Ireland.[107] Previously, only one VHF Band III frequency was allocated to Northern Ireland which was allocated to the local commercial ensemble. Block 11D became available in 2013 after digital television switchover in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.[108]

Local ensembles

The Radio Authority (and subsequently Ofcom) continue to award regional ensemble licences to a number of radio groups with advertising of the licences starting from 1998,[109] and licence awards being awarded from 10 May 1999, with the Birmingham ensemble being the first local licence being issued to CE Digital.[110] The Birmingham ensemble licence award was followed by awards for licences in Manchester, Greater London, Glasgow and South Yorkshire, with more licences being awarded afterwards.

In October 2006, Ofcom announced a timetable of locations which would get its own DAB ensemble, where a local ensemble does not currently offer coverage.[111] Three blocks will be made available in VHF Band III. In May 2007, Ofcom replaced the York and Scarborough proposed licence area for a licence which covers the whole of North Yorkshire, and the Guildford plus Reigate and Crawley licences were merged to cover Surrey.[112]

Areas covered are as follows:

Area Advertisement date Block Winning applicant Ensemble name
Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire December 2006 10D NOW Digital NOW Home Counties
Derbyshire January 2007 10B NOW Digital (East Midlands) NOW Derbyshire
Wrexham and Chester February 2007 10D MuxCo MuxCo North East Wales & West Cheshire
Hereford and Worcestershire March 2007 10B MuxCo MuxCo Hereford & Worcester
Northamptonshire April 2007 10C NOW Digital NOW Northampton
Oxford May 2007 10B NOW Digital NOW Oxford
Gloucestershire July 2007 10C MuxCo MuxCo Gloucestershire
North Yorkshire June 2007 12D MuxCo MuxCo North Yorkshire
Mid and West Wales August 2007 12D MuxCo MuxCo Mid and West Wales
Surrey and Northern Sussex September 2007 10C MuxCo MuxCo Surrey and Northern Sussex
Lincolnshire October 2007 10D[nb 7] MuxCo MuxCo Lincolnshire

As part of the Digital Economy Act 2010 which gained Royal Assent and became law on 8 April. 2010, some DAB ensembles will be reorganised and merged.[113] As a result, local ensembles waited for both the act to commence on 12 June 2010 and a report on the planning of DAB coverage and frequencies across the UK, with the final publication made to Government on 1 May 2012 before going ahead with announcements on the launch of additional local ensembles.[114]

In 2019, a few additional areas not covered by a local ensemble were advertised:[115][116][117]

Area Advertisement date Block Winning applicant Ensemble name
Channel Islands April 2019 12A (or 11C) Bailiwick Broadcasting Limited[118] TBA
Morecambe Bay[nb 8] June 2019 12D[nb 9] MuxCo Cumbria Limited[119] TBA
North and West Cumbria June 2019 11B Bauer Digital Radio Limited[119] TBA
Southwest Scotland June 2019 10D No applicants N/A

Regional ensembles

The first regional licence[120] to cover a greater area of land compared to a local ensemble was awarded on 6 October 2000 to Switch Digital for Central Scotland[121] Other areas which were awarded and classed as regional licences include:

Region Operator Licence award date On air date Closure date
Central Scotland Switch Digital 6 October 2000 June 2001 N/A
North East England MXR Ltd 15 December 2000 July 2001 29 July 2013
South Wales and the Severn Estuary MXR Ltd 23 January 2001 July 2001 29 July 2013
West Midlands MXR Ltd 9 February 2001 August 2001 27 August 2013
North West England MXR Ltd 9 March 2001 September 2001 24 September 2013
Yorkshire MXR Ltd 28 November 2002 June 2003 29 June 2015[122]

In March 2009, Ofcom made a recommendation to the Government in their Radio in Digital Britain report that the regional ensembles should expand into a nationwide regionalised service to fill the gap made by the 4Digital Group pulling out of the second national ensemble. Ofcom cited that the regions for the second national ensemble would be:[123]

On 25 September 2012, it was announced that the MXR multiplexes will close between July and September 2013 after the shareholders Global Radio & Arqiva decided not to renew the licences. Digital Radio UK stated that the released frequencies of the closed regional multiplexes would be reused for local DAB coverage roll-out.[124]

Second national ensemble

First licence advertisement

Ofcom announced in 2005 that they would be advertising for the second national digital ensemble. As a result, GCap threatened to take Ofcom to court after being told by the Radio Authority that there would not be another national ensemble. The court action was dropped after Ofcom assured GCap that none of the stations on the second ensemble would compete with existing stations on the Digital One ensemble.[125]

On 1 December 2006, Ofcom advertised a licence for a second national digital ensemble to launch new digital radio and multimedia services on frequency block 11A (216.928 MHz).[126] Applications needed to be submitted to Ofcom by 28 March 2007.

On 29 March 2007, Ofcom announced that it had received two applications for the second national digital ensemble, from the 4 Digital Group and National Grid Wireless.[127] The radio channels which made up both applications are as follows:[128][129][130]

4 Digital Group
Channel 4 Radio Speech Channel 4 Radio
Closer Female music and lifestyle EMAP
Disney Children's radio The Walt Disney Company
E4 Radio Youthful entertainment and music Channel 4 Radio
Original Album led alternative music CanWest Global Communications
Pure 4 Adult music and speech Channel 4 Radio
Sky News Radio Rolling news British Sky Broadcasting
Sunrise Radio Asian music and community programming Sunrise Radio Group
talkRadio Talk radio UTV plc
Virgin Radio Viva Younger female music station SMG plc
Podcast service Various podcasts Various
National Grid Wireless
BBC Asian Network Asian music and entertainment BBC
Channel 4 Radio Station 1 TBA Channel 4 Radio
Channel 4 Radio Station 2 TBA Channel 4 Radio
Colourful News and Afro-Caribbean community radio Colourful Media Limited
Confidential 50+ radio station Confidential
Confidential Adult-Album Confidential
Confidential Asian radio station Confidential
Confidential Love songs Confidential
Confidential Rolling news Confidential
Fun Radio Children's programming (13 hours) Children's Radio UK Limited
Premier Christian Radio Christian programming London Christian Radio Limited
Radio Luxembourg Youthful alternative and indie music CLT/UFA
Radio Play Interactive participation radio (6 hours) Somethin' Else

On 6 July 2007 Ofcom awarded the licence for the second national ensemble to the 4 Digital Group, who were required to launch its services one year after its licence award.[131] However, on 10 October 2008 the 4 Digital Group pulled its plans for digital radio, including the launch of the second multiplex. Ofcom held talks with the other remaining shareholders of the 4 Digital Group to see if they were willing to continue with the launch.[132] In March 2009, Ofcom recommended to the Government that the second national ensemble should be regionalised, formed by the existing regional ensembles.[123]

Second licence advertisement

Main article: Sound Digital

On 1 July 2014, Ofcom re-advertised the second national ensemble licence on frequency 11A for interested parties to submit applications by 31 October 2014.[133] The deadline was extended to 15:00 on 29 January 2015.[134]

On 29 January 2015, it was announced that two bidders had applied for the licence to run the second national ensemble.[135][136][137] Listen2Digital, run primarily by Orion Media and Babcock International Group amongst others[138] and Sound Digital, run by Arqiva, Bauer and UTV amongst others.[139] On 27 March, Sound Digital was announced as the winning bidder.[140]

The list of proposed radio stations submitted to Ofcom were as follows:[135][141][142]

Listen2Digital
GEM Female Adult Contemporary Orion Media DAB
Fun Kids Children Children's Radio UK DAB
Sabras Radio Asian Contemporary Sabras Sound DAB
Panjab Radio Asian Specialist Panjab Radio DAB
Share Radio Finance Share Radio DAB
Premier Christian Radio Christian (currently on Digital One) Premier Christian Communications DAB
Premier Gospel Christian Gospel Premier Christian Communications DAB
Nation Radio Male Adult Contemporary Town & Country Broadcasting DAB
The Wireless Oldies Age UK DAB
TBC Sports Radio Confidential DAB
TBC Food Confidential DAB
TBC Jazz Confidential DAB
TBC Modern Rock Confidential DAB
TBC Contemporary Hits Confidential DAB
RTÉ Radio 1 Irish Public Service Broadcasting Raidió Teilifís Éireann DAB+
Gaydio LGBT Gaydio Digital DAB+
Chris Country Country Chris Country Broadcasting DAB+
Upload Radio Special Events Folder Media DAB+
Sound Digital
talkRADIO Speech UTV Radio DAB
talkSPORT 2 Sports Talk UTV Radio DAB
talkBUSINESS Business UTV Radio DAB
Magic Mellow Relaxing Music Bauer DAB
KISSTORY "Old Skool" Dance Bauer DAB
heat radio Pop Music Bauer DAB
Absolute 80s 80s Music (currently on Digital One) Bauer DAB
Planet Rock Rock Music (currently on Digital One) Bauer DAB
Virgin Radio Rock & Pop UTV Radio/Bauer DAB
Jazz FM Jazz Jazz FM Investments Ltd DAB
UCB Inspirational Christian United Christian Broadcasters Limited DAB
Premier Christian Radio Christian (currently on Digital One) Premier Christian Communications DAB
Sunrise Radio Asian Music & Speech Sunrise Radio (London) Limited DAB
British Muslim Radio Muslim Asian Sound Radio Limited DAB
TBC TBC Confidential DAB+

Small Scale DAB

Trials

After experimentation on the Brighton experimental ensemble, Ofcom advertised for small scale DAB multiplexes[43][143] to broadcast across the United Kingdom on ten localised multiplexes for a nine-month trial period,[144] then extended for an extra two years[145] and then until December 2021.[53] The trials were intended to test the viability of using free and open source software (FOSS) with low cost equipment[146] to broadcast from a single transmitter, a single frequency network or channel repeaters to allow smaller radio stations to broadcast more cost effectively than is currently possible on local multiplexes.[147]

Trial Ensembles
Area Operator
Single Transmitter
Aldershot BFBS Aldershot
Birmingham Switch Radio
Brighton and Hove Brighton and Hove Radio
Bristol Celador Radio
Manchester Niocast Digital
Norwich Future Digital Norfolk
Portsmouth Angel Radio
Single Frequency Network
Glasgow Brave Broadcasting
London U.DAB
Channel Repeater
Cambridge UKRD

In September 2016, Ofcom released its final report into the experiences and results of the small scale DAB trials[148] deeming them to be successful and technically sound. A number of conclusions were made regarding the trials:

  • The hardware and FOSS worked well with few technical problems. Issues identified regarding single frequency networks and software stability and usability have been identified and have either been fixed or are being worked on;
  • Multiplex operators are working together, sharing experiences of running the trial multiplexes and furthering DAB features such as slideshows and additional DAB+ services. Seventy new services have launched across the ten multiplexes with a test and development multiplex launched afterward, inspired by the trials;
  • There is demand for a roll-out of small scale DAB multiplexes across the UK which Ofcom deems as "technically possible and commercially sustainable".

A future roll-out of small scale DAB multiplexes would be performed with a number of DAB frequency blocks, subject to business users migrating away from those frequencies and also subject to Parliamentary approval through the Broadcasting (Radio Multiplex Services) Bill 2016–17 which gained royal assent on 27 April 2017.[149] This should allow at least one multiplex in most parts of the UK.[44]

Permanent small scale DAB rollout

The rollout of small scale DAB ensembles began from 1 September 2020 in areas with high demand for services and greatest benefit for small scale DAB services in round one and then ensembles within the North West of England for round two[150][151] and a further number of ensembles in each subsequent round. Applications for potential licensees are advertised for approximately two months before applicants are announced one month later. Licences are awarded from two months after the announcement of licence applicants with ensembles expected to launch by eighteen months from the date of their licence award.[152]

The first permanent small scale DAB multiplex launched in Tynemouth and South Shields on 11 December 2021.[153] Small scale DAB multiplex licenses are grouped into rounds with the first covering the test services already established and some large cities. All round one areas were expected to be operational during 2022. Round two covered North West England with license awards in May 2022. Round three included more large towns with license awards completed in November 2022. Round 4 licenses were advertised in July 2022. Round 5 licenses which cover London and the South East of England were advertised in early 2023. 27 areas for round 6 were announced in October 2023.[154]

In October 2023, UK DAB Networks one of the operators of SSDAB multiplexes started proceedings for Voluntary Liquidation.[155]

Digital Radio UK

Digital Radio UK is an organisation which represents the interests of the digital radio industry including the BBC, commercial radio companies and transmission network operator, Arqiva. The organisation also promotes the use and take up of DAB in the United Kingdom and ensure that the deadline for digital migration in 2015 is met.[156][157][158][159] Digital Radio UK is formed from the Digital Radio Delivery Group which also absorbed the Digital Radio Development Bureau (DRDB).[156] Part of DRDB's plans, and under Digital Radio UK still is, will be to promote DAB uptake through a website for consumers as well as print and radio advertising.[160]

Notes

  1. ^ Capacity units refer to a measure of a streams bitrate in addition to error correction added to the aforementioned stream. Capacity units are used to accurately determine the total capacity of a DAB ensemble.
  2. ^ Regional ensembles for the West Midlands closed on 27 August 2013. Yorkshire closed on 29 June 2015.
  3. ^ Regional ensembles for the North East, South Wales and the Severn Estuary closed on 29 July 2013. North West closed on 24 September 2013.
  4. ^ Regional ensembles for the North East, South Wales and the Severn Estuary closed on 29 July 2013. North West closed on 24 September 2013.
  5. ^ Although not strictly classed as a digital radio service, BBC Parliament broadcast on digital terrestrial in audio only up until the launch of Freeview on 30 October 2002.
  6. ^ One exception to this was jazzfm.com, which continued to be streamed outside the UK.
  7. ^ The Lincolnshire ensemble began broadcasts on block 12A after the Yorkshire ensemble closed.
  8. ^ Originally advertised as two separate ensembles, Morecambe Bay as well as North and West Cumbria and Southwest Scotland. Plans were changed in June 2019 to allow applicants to decide which frequency blocks and areas they cover within the perspective area.
  9. ^ 12D is the internationally agreed frequency allotment for this area under the GE06 Plan. Wohnort's DAB Ensembles Worldwide website and the Arqiva coverage maps in the MuxCo Cumbria Limited application designate 11B as the frequency for this ensemble.

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