Ofcom announces 17 SSDAB multiplex licences

Nathan Spackman | Thursday 12th May 2022 11:54am

Listeners from Warrington to Wrexham will soon be able to tune into a wider choice of ultra-local digital radio stations, with Ofcom awarding 17 small-scale DAB radio multiplex licences in North West England and North East Wales.

Eight of the areas only had one applicant, meaning the winning applicant was the only bid, excluding Southport where the single bidder did not win the license.

The eight area are Wrexham, Congleton & Leek, Cheshire Mid, Cheshire East and Buxton & Glossop.

The winning licence holders are as follows:

  • Blackburn, Burnley and Darwen: BBD Digital
  • Blackpool: Fun Coast Digitial CIC
  • Bolton and Bury: Bolton and Bury DAB Radio Ltd
  • Buxton and Glossop: High Peak One Digital Ltd
  • Cheshire (east): Cheshire East DAB Ltd
  • Cheshire (mid): Cheshire Radio Ltd
  • Congleton & Leek: Moorlands DAB Ltd
  • Crewe, Nantwhich & Whitchurch: South Cheshire DAB ltd
  • Liverpool: Liverpool DAB ltd
  • Manchester: M&S Digital
  • Oldham & Rochdale: Credible Focus Ltd
  • Preston: Preston DAB Ltd
  • Southport: No Licence Awarded
  • Stockport: Stockport Community SSDAB Ltd.
  • Stoke & Newcastle-under-Lyme: Alternative Broadcasting Company
  • Warrington, Widnes & Runcorn: Warrington, Widnes & Runcorn DAB Ltd
  • Wigan: Wigan and St Helens Community Media CIC
  • Wrexham: Wrexham DAB Ltd

Ofcom says the roll-out of small-scale DAB will enable the launch of around 200 multiplexes, covering all four UK nations. The awards bring the total number of multiplex licences awarded to 42.

Ofcom announced its future licensing plans and review of small-scale DAB roll-out.

Ofcom published the 32 applications it has received for the third round of licence advertisements and confirmed that applications for Round 4 will be open in the Autumn, when the areas for Round 5 will also be confirmed.

Ahead of Round 4, Ofcom confirmed that Ludlow, Cleobury Mortimer & Tenbury Wells have been added to the list of licence areas. It says it will advertise these licences in the autumn, along with the list of areas we plan to advertise in Round Five.

A progress report on the small-scale DAB roll-out to date is also available.

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