Bauer Digital Radio has announced its intention to apply for the DAB multiplex licences for the Morecambe Bay, North and West Cumbria and Southwest Scotland areas.
Grae Allan, Bauer Digital’s DAB Radio Director says: “Digital Radio listening has expanded significantly in recent years. DAB multiplexes provide the lion’s share of digital listening across the UK, so we’re excited that Ofcom has now advertised local DAB licences for the Cumbria area, and that BDR will be making an application”.
We’ve already heard that Nation Broadcasting is planning to submit an application to Ofcom ahead of the closing date on September 11th, but no other companies have revealed any plans to apply.
Bauer Digital operates DAB multiplexes across Scotland, the North of England and in Northern Ireland, as well as the only commercial FM radio station in North and Mid Cumbria, CFM.
Parent company Bauer Radio is also a joint venture DAB multiplex partner with Global in London, Birmingham and Manchester and also recently acquired interests in the MuxCo network of multiplexes.
Bauer wants to hear from anyone who might be interested in broadcasting to all or part of the area, via email – bauer.dab@bauermedia.co.uk
Oh no. I hope Bauer are not successful with this. We don’t want another big radio group owning radio stations and the multiplexes so they can further minipulate the industry.
Bauer have the money and can keep a non profitable service going small companies cant
Yip, and todate have priced smaller companies OUTof the market.
Nation Radio on the other hand activly encourage smaller / community broadcasters
There could be at least four applications for this – Arqiva, Bauer, Nation & MuxCo.
The multiplex for South West Scotland will include capacity for a digital version of BBC Radio Scotland which actually includes an opt out service for Dumfries & Galloway (D&G) news and features! The D&G optout is currently transmitted on FM and 585 kHz AM, while BBC Radio Scotland in all other areas is on 810 kHz AM! An opt out first for BBC Radio Scotland on DAB! I think, Bauer may get the West of Scotland multiplexes (or all three) to carry their established services including Westsound FM and CFM with a possibility of extending Ayrshire’s West FM into the D&G area!
After being subjected to their dreadful Hits Radio Bauer shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a radio licence. If that’s the future of radio I’ll stick to my itunes, thanks.