Five new areas have been granted a small-scale DAB digital radio multiplex licence today in Ofcom’s round seven.
The areas are The Ards Peninsula in Northern Ireland, Bridgewater in Somerset, Exmouth & Dawlish in Devon, Loughborough & Coalville in Leicestershire, and Ringwood, Verwood and Fordingbridge in east Dorset.
Ards DAB Ltd plans to launch services covering Newtownards, Bangor, and parts of Belfast. Ofcom noted those involved in the applicant had extensive experience of the radio sector in Northern Ireland and had successfully established the Belfast & Lisburn small-scale multiplex.
Sedgemoor FM CIC said they expect good coverage of key areas.
ExmouthDAB Ltd, which includes local group DevonAir Radio, will cover an area of around 60,000 adults.
Maxxwave Limited has been awarded the small-scale DAB radio licence for Loughborough and Coalville. One transmission site near Copt Oak will be used.
And the Ringwood, Verwood and Fordingbridge licence went to Forest DAB Ltd, who will operate the service using a transmitter based in Verwood to reach around 47% of the advertised area.
18 more licence awards are still to come from round seven.