A community radio station, unable to apply for an FM licence till next year, is launching on a DAB Digital Radio multiplex instead.
MKFM will start testing when the Herts, Beds & Bucks mux is officially switched on Thursday morning and will join services by Global Radio, Connect FM and the BBC.
The new DAB transmitters will be switched on in a ceremony at Bletchley Park’s National Museum of Radio tomorrow morning, coverage of which will be available via @RadioTodayLIVE with Arqiva.
Milton Keynes Dons chairman Pete Winkelman and MP Iain Stewart will switch on the transmitter at 8.45am.
MKFM Programme Director Chris Gregg said: “With the support of Milton Keynes Council, our MP’s and the community, MKFM will be continuing to campaign for a local FM license which will be available next year.
“However, DAB Digital Radio brings the opportunity to provide a true local service up to 18 months earlier than FM.
“Our test transmissions start Thursday and we’ll be launching a full service at the end of April.”
Ofcom is inviting applications for community radio stations on FM but will not accept submissions for the Milton Keynes area till the first half of 2014.
See today’s eRADIO for an exclusive article by Ford Ennals, CEO, Digital Radio UK
Posted on Wednesday, February 13th, 2013 at 9:44 am by RadioToday UK