The MXR regional digital radio multiplex for the West Midlands is being turned off today, after 12 years on-air.
MXR West Midlands had nine transmitters covering Coventry, Stafford, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Shropshire, Stratford, Hickley, Bromsgrove and more.
The Bromsgrove transmitter frequency block will transfer over to MuxCo Herefordshire and Worcestershire from September 2013.
Listener choice will be significantly reduced once again, following recent switch-offs in South Wales and the North East. Stations such as Real Radio XS, Choice FM, UCB (x2) and LBC 97.3 will no longer be available on terrestrial radio in the area.
The decision to remove these radio stations was made by MXR owners Global Radio and Arqiva last year when they announced they weren’t renewing the licence to operate the services, following consultation with service providers and in light of the industry’s decision to focus on the development and build out of the national and local networks of DAB transmitters.
Capital, Heart, Panjab and Smooth Radio are moving to local multiplexes to continue their DAB offerings.
There are two of the five MXR multiplexes still operating, in the North West and Yorkshire. North West will close on September 24th but there is no information available at this time on when and if Yorkshire will also close.
David Lloyd has recorded some of the messages being played on the stations before they were removed:
Posted on Tuesday, August 27th, 2013 at 1:48 am by RadioToday UK