An additional four services have launched on local DAB in the Channel Islands, bringing the total number of stations available on the recently launched network to 26.
Bailiwick Radio Hits, playing non-stop hits from the 00s and today; Bailiwick Radio Classics, playing non-stop hits from the 70s and 80s; and UCB 1 and UCB 2, Christian faith-based radio stations playing contemporary Christian music alongside fun, thought-provoking, and informative conversations, are now live for listeners across Jersey and Guernsey on DAB+.
They join a huge and varied line up of digital stations on the busiest local multiplex in the British Isles. These include Heart, Capital, Smooth and Virgin, bringing famous voices such as Jamie Theakston & Amanda Holden, Roman Kemp and Chris Evans to the Islands via a free-to-air terrestrial broadcast platform; existing FM favourites BBC Radio Jersey and BBC Radio Guernsey, Channel 103 and Island FM; and additional new services from multiplex owner Nation Broadcasting, including the Islands’ only dedicated decades stations, Nation 70s, Nation 80s and Nation 90s.
The new DAB network, which launched at the beginning of August, broadcasts all services in DAB+, an upgraded and more efficient version of DAB that enables a greater number of stations to be broadcast, and is the first of its kind to launch fully in DAB+, delivering a greater range of choice with more services than any of the UK’s equivalent local multiplexes. To listen to the services via the new DAB+ network, Islanders will need a DAB+ enabled digital radio [See Notes to Editors – 1] or for those services previously available on the Channel Islands, they can continue to listen by their existing means.
Listeners in Jersey, Guernsey, Herm, Sark and Alderney can receive the new network thanks to three new transmitters located in Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney covering 82% of the population and 93% of roads. Whilst the transmitters in Jersey and Guernsey have already launched, the Alderney transmitter will launch later in the year. Islanders can confirm that they are in coverage of the new network by checking their postcode here and may need to retune their digital radios to receive the stations on DAB+ for the first time [See Notes to Editors – 2].
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Whilst many older DAB digital radios will only receive DAB stations, the majority of new devices can receive DAB+ stations as well as DAB, and there are lots of DAB/DAB+ radios available. Most new radios available to buy now are DAB+ compatible but to make sure look for the Digital Tick Mark on packaging or check the product specification. Virtually all cars pre-fitted with a DAB radio will also receive DAB+.
- Retuning a DAB/DAB+ digital radio is a simple process. Simply press the auto tune or auto scan button or go to the menu and press auto tune. If this does not locate all services, then listeners are recommended to run a full scan. More information can be found at: www.getdigitalradio.com/retune.
- The full list of services now available on the new Channel Islands DAB network are: Angel Radio; Bailiwick Radio Classics Bailiwick Radio Hits; BBC Radio Guernsey; BBC Radio Guernsey Extra; BBC Radio Jersey; BBC Radio Jersey Extra; Capital; Channel 103; Heart; Island FM; Nation UK; Nation 70s; Nation 80s; Nation 90s; Nation Rock; Nation Love; Nation Dance; Quay FM; Smooth; Soleil Radio; talkSPORT; Times Radio; UCB 1; UCB2; Virgin Radio