New MuxCo DAB transmitters in Gloucestershire means Sunshine Radio and BBC Radio Gloucestershire are now broadcasting on digital radio for the first time.
The two local stations are joined by Heart and Gold covering 400,000 people in the area.
Ginny Murfin from Sunshine Radio said: “It’s great that Sunshine Radio will be available to listeners on DAB for the first time, bringing local news and music to our listeners, with the digital benefits of easy tuning and scrolling information.”
The official switch-on took place this morning at the Grade 1-listed Pittville Pump Rooms in Cheltenham. The two new transmitters at Churchdown Hill and Stockend Wood are now on with a further two transmitters planned for Cirencester and Icombe Hill towards the end of the year.
Mark Jones, Editor of BBC Radio Gloucestershire, said: “We are delighted that BBC Radio Gloucestershire will be available on DAB for the first time. It brings improved reception to many parts of the county and gives us the opportunity to offer our full range of programmes in digital quality.”
This switch-on comes the same week that the BBC announced plans to add 162 new digital radio transmitters to improve national DAB coverage for its national network stations. This expansion to more than 97% of the population will include two new transmitters in Gloucestershire.
Government has said they will make a decision on radio switchover at the end of 2013.
Nathan Sykes, from the band The Wanted said: “Growing up in Gloucestershire, music and radio was so important to me. I am really pleased that from today people can listen to their favourite shows on DAB digital radio.”
Marcus Langreiter of Global Radio said: “We’re excited to be able to bring both Heart and Gold to digital radio in Gloucestershire. We know our listeners love the great music we play, and now they can listen in digital quality.”
The photo shows Gloucester rugby star Nick Wood, Jane Ostler from Digital Radio UK and Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood switching on the new DAB digital radio transmitters.
11:17am: Edited – Nathan wasn’t at the event but did send a pre-recorded message.
Posted on Friday, October 18th, 2013 at 9:41 am by RadioToday UK