Listeners in Salisbury have woken up to more radio choice this morning (Monday 28 March 2022) following the launch of a new digital radio network carrying 18 digital radio services.
The new network, operated by Muxcast Salisbury, a joint venture between commercial group Nation Broadcasting and forces broadcaster BFBS, is the second multiplex to launch under Ofcom’s small-scale DAB programme which is set to bring a huge expansion of local radio listening choice to listeners across the UK.
The range of 18 services newly available in DAB+ in Salisbury includes dedicated local services, Salisbury Radio and BFBS Salisbury Plain; decades music stations, Nation 70s, Nation 80s and Nation 90s; national speech services, Times Radio and talkRADIO; and popular music services Virgin Radio and Greatest Hits Radio.
All (with the exception of one) services will broadcast in DAB+, an upgraded and more efficient version of DAB that enables a greater number of stations to be broadcast, and listeners will need to ensure they have a DAB+ enabled digital radio to receive the stations. Listeners can confirm if they are in coverage of the new network by checking their postcode using our station checker here, and may need to retune their digital radio to receive the stations for the first time.
Ash Elford, Nation Broadcasting's DAB Platform Manager, said: "We are proud to have launched our Salisbury DAB+ multiplex. This launch has continued Nation’s commitment towards making digital radio accessible to broadcasters of all sizes, as well as significantly increasing listener choice in the Salisbury area. Digital radio ownership in Salisbury is strong, and we look forward to listeners exploring the new services that are now available."
Nicky Ness, Director of Broadcasting at BFBS, said: "BFBS has been firmly established in Salisbury Plain on analogue radio for many years, but from today we are now able to broadcast four services on DAB digital radio to the wider Salisbury area. This is a huge development for the Armed Forces community."
The full line up of new digital radio services available in Salisbury available on DAB+ (unless stated otherwise) are:
Angel Radio; BFBS Beats; BFBS Edge; BFBS Ghurka; BFBS Salisbury Plain; Greatest Hits Radio Salisbury (DAB); Greatest Hits Radio South Coast; Hot Gold; Hot Radio; Like One; Like Retro; Nation 70s; Nation 80s; Nation 90s; Salisbury Radio; talkRADIO; Times Radio; Virgin Radio
Muxcast Salisbury has capacity available for other radio services wishing to broadcast to Salisbury. Interested organisation should visit muxcast.com for further information.
Small-scale DAB is an innovative broadcasting technology pioneered by Ofcom which provides a low-cost way for local commercial, community and specialist music services to be broadcast digitally. The first network to launch was in Tynemouth and South Shields in December 2021, and followed an extensive 6-year programme of work by Ofcom, trialling and planning the new local infrastructure and licencing regime.
Applications are currently open for the third round of small-scale DAB licences, with five further rounds of awards planned in due course. In total all eight rounds of the small-scale DAB programme will see the launch of approximately 200 multiplexes, collectively covering all of the UK’s four nations, and each carrying a diverse range of community and small commercial radio services, some existing analogue services and some completely new, ranging from grass-roots community services to boutique specialist music stations, and services aimed at minority groups and other under-served audiences.