Digital radio in the United Kingdom

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 is proceeding since test transmissions were started by the BBC in 1990. The UK currently has the world's biggest digital radio network, with 103 transmitters, two national DAB ensembles and 48 local and regional DAB ensembles broadcasting over 250 commercial and 34 BBC radio stations across the UK. In the capital, London there are already more than 51 different digital stations available. In addition to DAB, radio stations are also broadcast on digital television platforms, Digital Radio Mondiale on mediumwave and shortwave frequencies 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.

Digital radio in the United Kingdom is being promoted by radio stations and the broadcasting industry on the premise that it provides a wider choice of radio stations, is easier to use, and is resistant to the interference which other broadcast media are susceptible to. However, the price paid for the extra number of stations is that the audio quality on DAB is lower than on FM. Also some areas of the country are not presently covered by DAB; the BBC says that it may not provide coverage to the final 10% of the population, and may use DRM instead. In 2011, Ofcom published a consultation with the intent to push DAB coverage across the United Kingdom up to the same level as enjoyed by FM broadcasting in the United Kingdom.^[1][2] The United Kingdom Government intends to migrate the vast majority of AM and FM analogue services to digital in 2015, subject to targets being met for coverage and listening figures for digital radio. Although ministers are currently considering pushing the switchover back to 2017 at the earliest.^[3]

In the UK, 26.5% of all radio listening hours were through digital platforms, with DAB making up for the majority of digital radio listening, and 38.2% of UK households claim to have access to a DAB radio set.^[4]

Digital Audio Broadcasting

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

Experimental transmissions of the DAB Eureka 147 standard from the Crystal Palace transmitting station by the BBC started in 1990^[5] with permanent transmissions covering London in September 1995.^[6] With the expansion of its single-frequency network in the spring of 1998,^[7] the BBC national ensemble was available to 65% of the UK population by 2001 and to 85% by 2004.^[8]

The Broadcasting Act of 1996 allowed the introduction of national, regional and local commercial ensembles in the United Kingdom.^[9]

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.^[10] The two companies formed the Digital One ensemble, which began broadcasting on 15 November 1999.^[11] The Digital One ensemble has grown and is currently available to over 90% of the UK population^[12] although a Ofcom report into Digital Radio in 2011 puts robust household coverage at 84.6% of the UK.^[13]

Growth and benefits of DAB in the UK

Chart showing the listening share of the United Kingdom's digital radio platforms - DAB, Digital TV, Internet and other forms of digital listening.

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.^[14] 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.^[8] 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^[15] Evoke series of radios broke the £100 price barrier, and DAB take up has increased since.^[8] As the result of the increase of uptake of DAB, electrical retailer Dixons announced in 2006 that it would discontinue selling analogue radios,^[16] though Dixons still continues to stock and sell analogue radios, and has given no indication of a timetable, as of August 2011.

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.^[17][18] Broadcasters also state that DAB offers better reception, without the problems of interference that are more noticeable through analogue radio.^[19] 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.^[19]

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, 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.^[20]

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 FM 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.^[21]

Criticisms of DAB in the UK

DAB technically provides low audio quality in the UK due to 98% of stereo stations using a bit rate level of 128 kbit/s^[22] with the MP2 audio codec, which provides much poorer sound quality than FM-quality (assuming good reception on both DAB and FM).^[23] A bit rate of 256 kbit/s would be required to achieve a 'CD quality' signal.^[24] Also, a large and growing number of music stations are transmitting in mono.^[25] Indeed, the bit rates used by the radio stations on other digital platforms, such as cable, terrestrial and satellite are usually higher than on DAB, so the audio quality is also higher.^[26] For example, all of the BBC stations use higher bit rates on the digital TV platforms than on DAB apart from the BBC World Service on Freeview. 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.^[27]

Ofcom estimates 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.^[28] 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.^[29]

On 30 January 2008, a report in the Daily Mail claimed that there were not enough DAB radios being sold to support the service for the future and that people were favouring their traditional analogue radios over DAB. It also reported that unless sales started to rise, DAB in the UK could follow the same fate as Betamax Video Cassettes did in the 1980s.^[30] In January 2009, the Digital Radio Development Bureau announced that fewer DAB radio sets were sold in Christmas 2008 than in the previous year, although the group states that customer confidence in DAB remains high.^[31]

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 within their stores. 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.^[32]

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.^[33]

Company pullouts of DAB

GCap

See also: GCap Media

On 11 February 2008 GCap Media chief executive Fru Hazlitt presented a new strategy for GCap to fend off a takeover bid from Global Radio.^[34] The strategy for DAB included the closure of national DAB stations Planet Rock and theJazz on 31 March 2008 as well as the disposal of Digital One to Arqiva for £1.^[35] Hazlitt also said that the DAB platform in the UK was not economically viable and that growth in digital radio would come from FM and Internet Radio,^[36] announcing a deal with Apple to stream GCap stations on the iPod touch and iPhone on the same day.^[37]

The takeover of GCap by Global Radio has led to them keeping Digital One and looking to take a stake in Channel 4's second national commercial multiplex.

The Digital Radio Development Bureau and the 4 Digital Group defended DAB by stating that DAB was showing signs of growth and would become more attractive to consumers and broadcasters.^[38] The BBC and 4 Digital Group issued a joint statement on 12 February 2008 stating their commitment to DAB.^[39]

4 Digital Group

See also: 4 Digital Group

On 10 October 2008, Channel 4 announced that it would pull out of the 4 Digital Group consortium, that it would not launch services on the second national multiplex, and that it would axe its three digital radio services, E4 Radio, Channel 4 Radio and Pure 4.^[40] Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan admitted that ending Channel 4's foray into digital radio could cost the corporation £9 million.^[41]

DAB frequency plan

DAB radio stations in the United Kingdom are broadcast on a number of frequency blocks on VHF Band III. 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.^[42] Block 5A has also been reserved for the launch of local ensembles.^[43]

Block	Frequency	England and Wales	Scotland	Northern Ireland
5A	174.928 MHz	Local ensembles	None	None
10B	211.648 MHz	Local ensembles	None	None
10C	213.360 MHz	Local ensembles	None	None
10D	215.072 MHz	Local ensembles	None	None
11A	216.928 MHz	Digital Two	Digital Two	Digital Two
11B	218.640 MHz	Local ensembles	Local ensembles	None
11C	220.352 MHz	Local ensembles	Local ensembles	None
11D	222.064 MHz	Digital One ensemble	Local and regional ensembles	None
12A	223.936 MHz	Local and regional ensembles (except West Wales)	Digital One ensemble	None
12B	225.648 MHz	BBC national DAB ensemble	BBC national DAB ensemble	BBC national DAB ensemble
12C	227.360 MHz	Local and regional ensembles (except the south coast)	Local and regional ensembles	None
12D	229.072 MHz	Local ensembles (except the south coast)	Local ensembles	Local ensembles

Under a Maastricht plan in 2002, the UK also has L band allocations for local terrestrial DAB,^[44] 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.^[45] On 16 May 2008, Ofcom declared that Qualcomm UK Spectrum Ltd had won the auction of L band frequencies in the UK.^[46]

BBC National DAB

Main article: BBC National DAB

The BBC's national DAB ensemble broadcasts on frequency block 12B (225.648 MHz) across the United Kingdom,^[47] with coverage currently at 92.2%.^[13] 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.^[48]

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 national operator, Digital One, regional operator MXR and local multiplexes operators including NOW Digital, Bauer Media Group, UTV, Switch Digital and MuxCo. Local and regional ensembles cover 66.2% of the UK.^[13]

DAB+

DAB+, a new digital radio standard using the HE-AAC encoding standard and announced by the WorldDAB organisation in 2006, is being considered for digital radio broadcasting in the UK. HE-AAC encoding is more efficient than the MPEG-2 Layer II encoding standard currently used for DAB in the UK. DAB+ will either allow stations to broadcast at higher sound quality than currently possible with DAB, or allow more stations at the same quality currently broadcast on an ensemble.^[49]

The Digital Radio Development Bureau released a press statement in January 2007 in which they admitted that DAB+ will be used in the UK in future.^[50][51] Ofcom have said that the UK will switch to DAB+, but not until the vast majority of radio sets can work with DAB+.^[52] The current chief executive of the DRDB, Tony Moretta, indicated 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 HE-AAC and therefore access DAB+ stations. Moretta also cited greater expense for broadcasters and overall satisfaction with the current audio quality of DAB stations^[53] of which a move to DAB+ would only benefit a small number of audiophiles as other reasons.^[54][55]

The 4Digital Group, led by Channel 4, who were originally awarded the licence to operate the new national DAB multiplex, had planned to launch a podcast service using the DAB+ format.^[56]

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^[57] 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 102.2 Jazz FM.^[58]

The BBC later launched BBC Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3 and Radio 4 FM on multiplex A on 14 February 2003.^[59] These channels later moved to Multiplex 1 on 3 October 2007.^[60]

Currently, the digital terrestrial platform has twenty seven radio stations broadcasting from broadcasters including the BBC, Bauer Radio, GMG Radio and Absolute Radio.^[61]

Digital satellite

Radio stations broadcasting via Satellite to the United Kingdom usually use the SES Astra series of satellites at 28.2° east or the Eutelsat Eurobird 1 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.^[62] 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, if it had secured the frequencies from the Ofcom auction of L band frequencies in 2008.^[63][64] However, Qualcomm beat WorldSpace in securing the L band frequencies in the Ofcom auction process.^[46]

Ondas Media plan to launch a subscription satellite service across twenty seven European countries including the UK in 2012, signing up car manufacturers such as BMW and Nissan as well as doing a deal with UK jazz station, Jazz FM to provide original content on the service.^[65]

Digital cable television

A number of digital radio stations also broadcast through digital cable platforms, including Virgin Media and WightCable.^[66]

Internet radio

In the United Kingdom, over 350 of the UK's radio stations also stream their stations online, not including Restricted Service Licenced radio stations, Hospital radio stations and stations who solely broadcast online.^[67] RAJAR figures taken between April and May in 2008 showed that 14.5 million people have listened to radio online with 9.4 million people listening every week.^[68] As well as listening through a media player on a computer, a number of British firms, including BT Group, Reciva, Pure Digital, Roberts Radio, Dixons 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.^[69] Apple and GCap Media made a deal in February 2008 for GCap stations to be broadcast through iPhone and iPod touch devices.^[37]

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.^[70] Radio stations which stream online including GCap Media and GMG Radio,^[71] have implemented IP blocking to prevent listeners outside the UK from listening to their radio stations and therefore avoided the increased fees.^[70][72]

In March 2007, a BBC News article reported that the PPL were re-negotiating royalty fees paid by UK Internet radio stations, and the result of the negotiations would be that fees would increase.^[73]

Digital Radio Mondiale

Digital Radio Mondiale is being considered by Ofcom for introduction in Britain in 2012, on the present AM medium wave band.

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.^[74]

The British Broadcasting Corporation BBC started broadcasting the BBC World Service on shortwave and mediumwave radio for a few hours a day^[75] across Europe from Orford Ness in Suffolk and Kvitsøy in Norway, the latter being receivable across England, Wales and Southern Scotland.^[76][77]

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^[78] and closed down on 31 October 2008.^[79] 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:^[80][81]

• The sound quality from the trial was better than AM quality, but not as good as average DAB quality;^[79]
• 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,^[81] 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;^[82]
• A single frequency network is possible and would be significantly robust.^[79]

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.^[83] 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.^[84]

There is currently an ongoing experimental DMB multiplex broadcast in London on L-Band and Cambridge on VHF Band III, used for video, audio and data applications.^[85][86]

Analogue switch-off

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. The report stated 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 DAB matches that of FM, of 90% which the report stated would not be achieved until 2015. The report mentioned that the Government would work with the BBC to meet the coverage target.^[87]

Carter also suggested in his report that manufacturers of devices which can pick up radio signals ensure it is DAB ready for the forthcoming migration. The report also indicates plans to create a Digital Radio Delivery Group (DRDG), made up of the major investors of DAB, whose plan it will be to ensure a smooth transition from AM and FM to DAB for consumers. They will also advise on digital radio migration.^[88] On 22 September 2009 the DRDG and Digital Radio Development Bureau were integrated into one organisation for this purpose - Digital Radio UK.^[89]

On 16 June 2009 the final Digital Britain report concluded that a switchover of all national and local FM services which currently broadcast on DAB multiplexes would take place in 2015 and that DAB would be chosen to take the UK to and beyond switchover.^[90] The Digital Economy Act 2010 has a requirement stating that the United Kingdom must prepare for digital switchover.^[91] To aid the transition to digital radio, Digital Radio UK started a Radio Amnesty during May and June 2010 where people could trade in an old AM/FM analogue radio for a 10-20% discount on a new DAB digital radio from participating retailers. Analogue sets which can be reconditioned will be sent to southern Africa.^[92]

On 30 November 2010 it was reported that ministers were considering delaying the switchover to DAB until 2017 at the earliest.^[3], however Ofcom did publish official plans for increasing DAB reception in various places around the same date.^[1][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 licenses for digital radio services in the United Kingdom, under the Broadcasting Acts of 1990 and 1996.^[93]

Application and licensing procedures

Ofcom awards licenses for digital radio services differently depending on the type of service and the platform.^[93] 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. On digital television services, individual stations can apply for either a digital cable and satellite licence to broadcast on the aforementioned platforms,^[93] or apply for a digital terrestrial licence to broadcast on digital terrestrial television.^[94]

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, subject to a fee payable to the ensemble operator.^[95] On Digital Satellite, radio stations need to secure capacity with a transponder operator and an uplink to a satellite.^[96] To broadcast on the Sky Digital platform, a broadcaster must also secure an EPG slot allowing viewers to navigate to their channel using the set-top-boxes provided by British Sky Broadcasting. A request for a EPG slot must be done up to nine months in advance.^[97] The same procedure applies to secure a slot on the Freesat platform, although stations need to contact Freesat UK Ltd instead of BSkyB. 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.^[98]

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.^[99] The licence was awarded to the sole applicant, GWR Group and NTL Broadcast to form Digital One.^[10] The original licence application included the following stations:^[100]

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 UTV Radio)
Teen and chart hits	Pop and dance music	GWR
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 the 31 December 2006 deadline set in the licence amendment.^[101]

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.^[102]

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,^[103] and licence awards being awarded from 10 May 1999, with the Birmingham ensemble being the first local licence being issued to CE Digital.^[104] 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.^[105] Three blocks will be made available in VHF Band III. In May 2007, Ofcom replaced the York and Scarborough for a licence which covers the whole of North Yorkshire, and the Guildford plus Reigate and Crawley licences were merged to cover Surrey.^[106]

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
Oxfordshire	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	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.^[107] As a result, local ensembles are waiting for the act to commence on 12 June 2010 before going any further.

Regional ensembles

The first regional licence^[108] to cover a greater area of land compared to a local ensemble was awarded on 6 October 2000 to Switch Digital for Central Scotland^[109] Other areas which were awarded and classed as regional licences include:

Region	Operator	Licence award date	On air date
Central Scotland	Switch Digital	6 October 2000	June 2001
North East England	MXR Ltd	15 December 2000	July 2001
South Wales and the Severn Estuary	MXR Ltd	23 January 2001	July 2001
West Midlands	MXR Ltd	9 February 2001	August 2001
North West England	MXR Ltd	9 March 2001	September 2001
Yorkshire	MXR Ltd	28 November 2002	June 2003

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:^[110]

• The East Midlands, East Anglia, mid and southern Lincolnshire;
• London, Southern England, the South East and the South Midlands;
• Northern Ireland;
• North East England and Cumbria;
• North West England;
• Scotland;
• The West Midlands;
• Wales;
• The West and South West of England;
• Yorkshire, the North Midlands and North Lincolnshire.

Second national ensemble

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.^[111]

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).^[112] 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.^[113] The radio channels which made up both applications are as follows:^{[114][115][116]}

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.^[117] 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.^[118] In March 2009, Ofcom recommended to the Government that the second national ensemble should be regionalised, formed by the existing regional ensembles.^[110]

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.^{[89][119][120][121]} Digital Radio UK is formed from the Digital Radio Delivery Group which also absorbed the Digital Radio Development Bureau (DRDB).^[89] 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.^[122]

References and notes

1. ^ ^{a b} "An approach to DAB coverage planning". Ofcom. 2011-06-22. http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/dab-coverage-planning/summary. Retrieved 2011-07-24. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "An approach to DAB coverage planning". Ofcom. 2011-06-22. http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/dab-coverage-planning/. Retrieved 2011-07-24. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Revoir, Paul (2010-11-30). "Lifeline for FM radio as digital switchover is delayed to 2017". Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1334250/Digital-switchover-radio-delayed-2017-Ministers-privately-accepted.html. Retrieved 2010-11-30. 
4. ^ "The Communications Market: Digital Radio Report". Ofcom. 2011-07-28. http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/radio-research/digital-radio-reports/digital-radio-report02/. Retrieved 2011-07-31. 
5. ^ "Milestones - 1990s". BBC Research and Development. http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/milestones/1990s.shtml. Retrieved 2007-04-17. 
6. ^ "The Status of T-DAB implementation in Europe". The Catalyst. http://www.digitaleradio.nl/Catalyst/EN/articles/EN_02_TheStatusofT-DABinEurope.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-17. ^{[dead link]}
7. ^ "So how does the BBC fit in?". BBC Research and Development. http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/projects/dab/dabbbc.shtml. Retrieved 2007-07-09. 
8. ^ ^{a b c} "DCMS REVIEW OF DAB DIGITAL RADIO" (PDF). BBC. October 2004. Archived from the original on 28 November 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071128162419/http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/policies/pdf/dab_review.pdf. Retrieved 2007-06-10. 
9. ^ "Broadcasting Act 1996". Office of Public Sector Information. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1996/1996055.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-21. 
10. ^ ^{a b} "APPENDIX 3.6 - Digital audio broadcasting" (PDF). Competition Commission. http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/2003/fulltext/479a3.6.pdf. Retrieved 2007-04-17. 
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24. ^ Page 26 of BBC R&D White Paper WHP 061 June 2003, DAB: An introduction to the DAB Eureka system and how it works http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/whp/whp-pdf-files/WHP061.pdf
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26. ^ "Digital Radio Platform Bit Rates". Digitalradiotech. http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/dab/digital_radio_bit_rates.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-21. 
27. ^ Pages 15-16 and 113-118 The Future of Radio Consultation April 2007 http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/futureradio/future.pdf
28. ^ "Ofcom Encourages UK to Move to DAB Version 2". Digitalradiotech. 2006-02-22. http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/articles/Ofcom-Encourages-UK-to-Move-to-DAB-Version-2.php. Retrieved 2007-05-21. 
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91. ^ Barnett, Emma (2009-11-20). "Digital Economy Bill: No date for radio digital switchover". London: The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/6616161/Digital-Economy-Bill-No-date-for-radio-digital-switchover.html. Retrieved 2010-03-14. 
92. ^ "'Scrappage' scheme launched to boost digital radio". BBC News. 2010-05-20. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8693613.stm. Retrieved 2010-05-22. 
93. ^ ^{a b c} "THE RADIO AUTHORITY : ITS LICENCES AND LICENSING PROCEDURES". Ofcom. Radio Authority. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/rau/about-ra/factsheets/fs3.html. Retrieved 2007-05-05. 
94. ^ "TV Licensing - Digital terrestrial television". Ofcom. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/tvlicensing/dtt/main.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-12. 
95. ^ "Broadcasters". Digital Radio Development Bureau. http://www.drdb.org/index.php?internalPage=brd.php&internalHeaderPage=brd_hd.html. Retrieved 2008-02-25. 
96. ^ "HOW TO SECURE YOUR CAPACITY". Eutelsat. Archived from the original on 15 February 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080215114300/http://www.eutelsat.com/business/2_4.html. Retrieved 2008-02-25. 
97. ^ "How to Launch A Channel". SES Astra. Archived from the original on 22 February 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080222011035/http://www.ses-astra.com/business/uk/solutions/media/broadcast/uk-how-to-launch-channel/index.php. Retrieved 2008-02-25. 
98. ^ "Frequently asked questions about UK Radio". RadioAndTelly.co.uk. http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/radiofaq.html. Retrieved 2007-02-25. 
99. ^ "RADIO AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES ADVERTISEMENT DATE FOR NATIONAL COMMERCIAL MULTIPLEX". Ofcom. Radio Authority. 1998-03-05. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/rau/newsroom/news-release/98/pr17.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-05. 
100. ^ "RADIO AUTHORITY RECEIVES ONE APPLICATION FOR FIRST AND ONLY NATIONAL COMMERCIAL DIGITAL MULTIPLEX LICENCE". Ofcom. Radio Authority. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/rau/newsroom/news-release/98/pr56.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-12. 
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See also

• Radio in the United Kingdom
• DAB ensemble
• Digital audio broadcasting
• Digital Radio Mondiale
• List of radio stations in the United Kingdom
• The Radio Academy

External links

Official sites

• Digital Radio Development Bureau (DRDB)
• DRDB's marketing website
• Guide to digital (radio and TV) channels on Astra satellites

National and regional multiplex sites operators

• Digital One website
• MXR website
• Bauer Media UK website
• NOW Digital website
• MuxCo website

UK Internet radio

• Radiofeeds - UK Internet radio station database

Other sites

• DAB Ensembles Worldwide (also known as "Wohnort", the main part of the site is a list of services currently transmitting including the UK), wohnort.org
• Digital Radio Tech - UK digital radio news and information
• Radio-now - UK Digital radio news and information