Since 2021, British regulator Ofcom has awarded 115 small-scale DAB licenses across the United Kingdom, 64 of which are now on the air.
So far 30.3% of the U.K. population can receive signals from small-scale DAB licensees, according to Ofcom, which released on Oct. 22 a progress report on the program. The report comes as the first awards for the sixth round of licenses is announced.
Across six rounds of licensing, 212 applications have been received for 167 areas with 115 licenses being awarded. Only 25 license areas did not draw applications.
The Ofcom report noted that on average it took licenses six months longer than anticipated to be get on the air with about half of licenses launching during the final month of their statutory requirement to launch within 18 months of the license award.
Only 14 awardees failed to launch within the allotted 18 months.
[Related: “Thornbury Presenter Marks DAB Launch With Fresh Wax”]
The 64 small-scale multiplexes on the air carry 590 program services, 292 of which are unique. OF the 292, 65% are new to terrestrial radio. Some 104 program services are licensed as Community Digital Sound Programmes, which require the operators to meet specific community objectives both on- and off-air.
The British small-scale DAB program is designed to get grassroots community broadcasters, specialist music stations, and services for minority and other underserved populations on the local airwaves.
Forty-three percent of the unique stations deliver local services, both commercial and community; 29% are specialist or themed music stations; 17% target minority ethnic or faith communities; and 9.5% are lifestyle stations.
In looking at reasons why 14 awardees failed to launch, Ofcom noted that six of the license winners determined that the market conditions changed since their application, making the multiplex financially unviable. Other awardees, primarily those depending upon grants and donations to launch, failed raise the needed funds in time.
Regarding the 18-month statutory deadline to launch, Ofcom noted that it was not empowered to extend the deadline set by Parliament. It also noted that such a deadline served as a reasonable incentive to ensure awardees launched in a timely manner.
Ofcom also noted that two licensees who launched on time went dark when their common owner went bankrupt. Both licenses have since been transferred to new operators and one of the multiplexes has since returned to air.
Regarding the application process, Ofcom noted that almost all applications need to modify their technical plans between the time the license is awarded and the multiplex begins operation. Most of these changes involve the planned vs. actual transmission site, resulting in slightly (2%) less coverage of the service areas than anticipated in the license.
Taking all these findings into account, Ofcom considers the process used to advertise and award small-scale DAB licenses, for the most part, a success. The regulator noted that it has provided a pathway to digital radio for small, community broadcasters and increased the diversity of programs offered to listeners.
Ofcom plans to advertise a seventh round of small-scale DAB licenses in late 2024 or early 2025, followed by a final eighth round in the first half of 2025. Additional small-scale multiplex licenses may be advertised beyond the eighth round, including readvertising licenses for areas not awarded in earlier rounds.
Regarding the possibility of additional local DAB multiplex or FM license allocations, Ofcom said that for now it sees greater benefits to the public from completing the small-scale DAB licensing process. It did not, however, rule out considering other sorts of licenses once round eight was complete.
