Monthly Radio broadcast update

TV, radio and on-demand Analogue radio Community radio Coverage and transmitters Licence information
Published: 9 June 2023
Last updated: 16 January 2026

Every month, we publish a round-up of all licensing activity on the radio stations that we regulate.

This includes details of any changes to formats and key commitments, as well as information on upcoming licence advertisements.

It is our policy only to keep these updates on our website for one year (please see below). Older updates can be found here via the National Archives.

December 2025:

Digital Radio

Small-scale DAB multiplex licence awards 

The following small-scale radio multiplex licence awards were made during this period:

Licence area Successful applicant company
Ely & March Fen Radio Limited
Market Harborough  Creativity Media Services Limited
Wakefield & Castleford Mid Yorkshire DAB Limited
Wellingborough Steers Media Limited

We were unable to make a licence award to the application for the Newark area submitted by Maxxwave Limited, which was also assessed during December.

Grant of small-scale DAB multiplex licences

Licence area Licensee Transmitters licensed Date from
Paisley & West Glasgow  Ross Inc Limited Paisley – Oliphant Court 05 December 
North London U.DAB Limited   Notting Hill Gate; Southgate; Stratford; Islington; Lewisham; Highgate 08 December
Rugby & Daventry Maxxwave Limited Cold Ashby 08 December
Wetherby Wetherby Community Radio Limited Wetherby – West Gate 14 December
North East London & South West Essex East London and Essex Digital C.I.C.   Brentwood; Ilford; Romford 16 December
Chelmsford Chelmsford Digital Radio Limited   Chelmsford – City Sound 19 December
Brighton Brighton & Hove Digital Radio C.I.C Brighton – Sussex Heights 28 December

Digital sound programme service (DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name
Harrogate Hospital Radio Society Harrogate Hospital Radio

Digital sound programme service (DSP) licences which have ceased to be licensed (handed back or revoked) in this period

Licensee Service name Reason
Life Radio UK Life Radio UK Surrendered
Islam Radio CIC Marefa Radio Surrendered

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Crescent Community Radio Ltd Crescent Radio Bolton and Bury
Hotdigital Community CIC Hotdigital Radio North London
Academy FM Thanet Academy FM Margate, Dover & Folkestone
Radio West Fife SCIO RadioWest Fife South West Fife
Chippenham Radio Chippenham Radio Chippenham
Greenwich Media CIC Maritime Radio South East London & North West Kent
Platform B CIC Platform B Brighton
Reprezent Ltd Reprezent 107.3  North London
Rinse FM Ltd Rinse FM North London
Herne Bay’s Cabin Radio Limited Cabin FM Canterbury

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Hospital Radio Glamorgan DAB Limited Hospital Radio Glamorgan Cardiff
Radio Hillingdon Radio Hillingdon West London
Platform B CIC Slack City BTN Brighton
Phoenix FM Limited Phoenix FM North East London and South West Essex
NU Skool Beatz Ltd House FM North London
London Musicians Collective Limited Resonance FM North London

Analogue Commercial Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A five-year renewal has been granted to the following:

Area Service name Current Licensee
Coventry Capital Touch Broadcasting Limited

Local radio licence transfers

Ofcom has approved the transfer of the following local commercial licences:

Area Service name Previous Licensee New Licensee
Hastings More Radio Arrow FM Limited Media Sound Limited
Worthing More Radio Splash FM Limited Media Sound Limited
Eastbourne and surrounding area More Radio Sovereign FM Limited Media Sound Limited

Analogue commercial radio licences which have ceased to be licensed in this period

Licensee Service name Reason
WBC Media CIC Coast Radio Surrendered

Analogue Community Radio

Community Radio Fund

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Hannah Bryant to the Community Radio Fund Panel. Hannah brings over 25 years’ experience in procurement, evaluation and funding assessment across the public, private and charitable sectors. She has supported organisations to make transparent, accountable funding decisions through consultancy and corporate sourcing roles. Further information about the Panel including membership and biographies can be found at Community Radio Fund Panel.

Following the Panel meeting of 12 and 13 January the Community Radio Fund 2025/26 awards will be announced in due course. Emails will be sent directly to applicants, and an announcement will also be made on the Community Radio Fund webpage.

Licence transfers in this period

Ofcom has approved the transfer of the following community radio licence:

Service name Location Previous Licensee New Licensee
Bangor FM Bangor South Eastern Regional College River Radio Bangor Limited

Analogue community radio licenes which have ceased to be licensed in this period

Service name Licensee Location Reason
Desi Radio The Panjab Centre Ltd Southall Surrendered

Key Commitments changes

Each station has as part of its licence, ‘Key Commitments’ which outline what the essential nature of the service is and details any specific expecta

tions of that service. Licensees may request changes to a station’s Key Commitments. Information about the process, as well as an application form, are on our website here https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/radio-broadcast-licensing/amend.

Coverage improvement and extension requests

Coverage extensions received:

During the last month the services listed below have requested an extension to their licence area. The application(s) are published at Apply for improvements to existing coverage and coverage extensions for community radio services. Ofcom will accept representations up to one month following publication before we make a formal decision. Representations can be sent to broadcast.licensing@ofcom.org.uk.

Service name Location
Radio Carlisle City of Carlisle and surrounding villages

During the last month the services listed below have had their requests for a coverage improvement provisionally agreed, subject to the new technical arrangements going through our usual formal clearance process (this includes Ofcom liaising with a number of outside agencies before changes can be implemented). We have considered the following requests to constitute coverage improvements.

Coverage improvements agreed:

Service name Location
Kane FM Guildford

Coverage extensions agreed:

See the guidance notes for the range of factors we take into account when considering these requests (in particular, paragraphs 2.46-2.49).

Station Outreach Radio
Current licence area   Hedge End, West End and Botley, and surrounding areas
Extended licence area Hedge End, West End, Botley, Fair Oak, Bishopstoke, and surrounding areas
Reasons for agreeing to the extension

An extension via a power increase was AGREED.

The increase in the size of the adult population served was not deemed to be significant.

Exceptional circumstances: Ofcom did not need to consider whether there were ‘exceptional circumstances’ to justify an increase in this case.

Other considerations

  • The applicant asserted that growth in local businesses and voluntary groups, coupled with increased demand for local facilities has in turn increased the need for the service to promote local facilities. The licensee explained that many of these groups are keen to work with Outreach Radio to help promote their activities which is indicative of demand and support.
  • The Licensee explained that many of the areas between the towns and villages of the proposed extended area are rural farming communities with an older population. The coverage extension will therefore provide a service for these communities which are unserved by local news and information due to recent changes to local commercial radio landscape.
  • The applicant highlighted that the residents in the surrounding areas work, shop and undertake leisure activities in Hedge End. The planned amalgamation of local councils in the district is a further indication of the affinity and relationship between the areas.
  • The Licensee asserted that it currently attends and promotes several community events, while supporting local charities and social enterprises in the area. Plans to replicate and strengthen “social benefit work”, demonstrates their commitment to the provision of on and off-air social gain in the extended area. Further, the establishment of the new studio in West End creates easy access for local volunteers and community groups which facilitates participation in the operation of the service. Also, in readiness for the potential coverage extension, the service is implementing plans to better meet the needs of audiences across their coverage area. The development of a strategy and action plan in collaboration with local councils and voluntary organisations further demonstrates a commitment to the provision of service and social gain to audiences in the proposed extended areas. Plans include changes to the schedule so that programmes specifically for the licenced coverage area can be broadcast locally, whilst other regional programming can be aired on small-scale DAB to other areas.
  • The Licensee explained that Hedge End and its surrounding areas have seen significant house building projects over the last 20 years resulting in population increase of over 27% and the expansion of the town into a major commuter zone where signal is poor. The low level of the transmitter site, increase in the volume of buildings and industrial “noise” has further adversely impacted the signal. The power increase will therefore align the service with the changes in the local landscape by enabling audiences in the proposed extended areas to receive the service whilst alleviate coverage deficiencies in the existing area. Further, more housing is planned that will result in the merger of the villages in the current and proposed coverage areas into a distinct community. The proposed extension with therefore ensure the provision of a homogenous and relevant service that provides bespoke content to and a voice for listeners in the area.
  • This request represents the most efficient use of spectrum and is cost-efficient as utilising the existing infrastructure and antenna via a power increase extends coverage whilst improving the signal in the existing coverage area - particularly in areas unserved by the community radio stations in Southampton and Winchester, or by Southampton and Winchester SS-DAB networks due to the coverage gap between multiplex areas. The low-level of the transmission site further ensures that the increase in power will be most effective in the target area, whilst reducing the overspill which would have been greater from a high-level site.
  • The Licensee gave due consideration to the local radio landscape and the potential impact a coverage extension would have on existing community radio services in Southampton. It was noted that they serve different audiences and target areas. Further, a neighbouring service confirmed that they have no issue with the proposed plans. This indicates no adverse impact to adjacent services. It was further argued that as Southampton tends to be the focal point of other “local” radio stations in the area. The coverage extension will therefore give the target areas a stronger voice of its own which is distinct from Southampton.
  • The applicant asserted that the change also helps to support the financial model for on-going sustainability of the service by appealing to a slightly wider area.
  • Ofcom published this application for a period of one month, which provides anyone with an opportunity to comment on the application. Ofcom received no comments from any party.
Station   West Kent Radio  
Current licence area   Tonbridge, Southborough and Tunbridge Wells  
Extended licence area   Tonbridge, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks  
Reasons for agreeing to the extension

Increase in licensed area: An extension via a relay site move to Sevenoaks was AGREED.  

The increase in the size of the adult population served was not deemed to be significant.

Exceptional circumstances: Ofcom did not need to consider whether there were ‘exceptional circumstances’ to justify an increase in this case.

Other considerations

  • The Licensee asserted that the proposed extended area of Sevenoaks is a key part of the connected West Kent community and is inextricably linked to the towns of Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells in the context of educational, transport, businesses, local government links and use of leisure facilities.
  • The applicant explained that people living in Sevenoaks largely send their children to secondary schools in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells and that many people in Sevenoaks travel to Tunbridge Wells for leisure. Further, the closure of banks in Tonbridge mean that customers travel to Sevenoaks for this service. As all towns are connected by strong transport and road links, this makes access between the existing and proposed extended area possible in as little as nine minutes. This indicates the residents in these towns converge and are linked socially.
  • The Licensee further stated that the current coverage area already includes villages neighbouring Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells that come under the auspices of Sevenoaks District Council. The future reorganisation of the local authorities will see the replacement of the existing local District councils by a West Kent Unitary Authority, proposals for which have recommended the uniting Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells under the same Unitary Authority.
  • The applicant highlighted that there are no other radio stations locally that carry extended interviews with local councillors on contentious issues that are of interest to the community in the extended area. BBC Radio Kent serves a county-wide population of 2 million people – which is 16 times the area of the population served by the station, while many stories West Kent Radio covers are not covered by BBC Radio Kent. Further, local commercial radio news content largely covers crime and headline news. The extension will therefore provide relevant local content to audiences in the extended area.
  • The Licensee explained that their existing programming, which includes local news, interviews and discussion of local issues, coupled with music targeted at over 45s, provides on-air social gain and would be relevant and of interest to audiences in Sevenoaks. This is particularly relevant because in Sevenoaks there is a relatively elderly population who are not digitally connected and rely heavily on FM. It was asserted that the coverage extension will therefore provide access to content of direct relevance and combat of loneliness in the community.
  • The Licensee will further extend its off-air social gain through outreach to community organisations, businesses and volunteers to the Sevenoaks town area, and engagement with the Sevenoaks Town Council-owned Stag Theatre to help promote local participation in the community productions staged there. It was also explained that provision of content relevant to the extended area, particularly in relation to local sport, would be a mechanism to promote engagement and participation in sport which will be in keeping with their charitable objective of improving the health of the population of West Kent. This further demonstrates a commitment to off-air social gain.
  • The Licensee provided evidence of demand and support for the proposed extension from the Local MP for Sevenoaks and Swanley, Sevenoaks Town Council, the representative of the Social Media Group for Sevenoaks and a local journalist who referenced increased community engagement and benefits to mental and physical wellbeing for audiences in the Sevenoaks if the request were to be approved.
  • The applicant explained that the proposed coverage extension will connect local businesses would with audiences in the area and in turn contribute to the viability of the service.
Ofcom published this application for a period of one month, which provides anyone with an opportunity to comment on the application. Ofcom received no comments from any party. Ofcom’s analysis has also indicated that there will be no overlap within the core areas of the neighbouring community radio services.

Please note: The success of an application is, amongst other things, dependent on frequency availability and whether there may be an increase in harmful outgoing interference to other stations. In every case we need to take account of other services (community, commercial and BBC) on the same frequency or an adjacent one to yours (or to a frequency that we may be considering for a relay). Please see the guidance document (PDF, 325.1 KB) for further information.

Restricted service licences

Licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name
Belfast International Watersports Ltd Drive-in
  • Digital Radio
  • Analogue Commercial Radio
  • Analogue Community Radio
  • Restricted service licences

Digital Radio

Small-scale DAB multiplex licence awards 

The following small-scale radio multiplex licence awards were made during this period:

Licence area Successful applicant company
Lancaster North Lancashire DAB Limited
North Somerset Bath Digital Radio C.I.C
Oban Caledonia TX Limited
Taunton Taunton DAB Limited
West Oxfordshire WOXDAB C.I.C

Digital sound programme service (DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name
The VIP Lounge Ltd The VIP Lounge
KIC Digital Radio Ltd KIC Radio
Steers Media Ltd Christmas Radio
Kohinoor Media Ltd Kohinoor Radio
Neil Winfield All Hit Radio
Fab Radio Ltd Magna Radio

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Gaydio Brighton Limited Gaydio Brighton Brighton
Nu Sound Radio Limited Nagrecha Radio East London
Rainbow Broadcasting Ltd Rainbow Radio North London

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Flex FM Radio Limited Flex FM West London
Flex FM Radio Limited Flex FM South London
University of Westminster Westminister Waves West London
Wetherby Community Radio Ltd Tempo 107.4FM Wetherby 

Analogue Commercial Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A five-year renewal has been granted to the following:

Area Service name Current Licensee
Scarborough Greatest Hits Radio Bauer Radio Limited 
East of England KISS/Greatest Hits Radio Bauer Radio Limited 

Local radio licence transfers

Ofcom has approved the transfer of the following local commercial licences:

Area Service name Previous Licensee New Licensee
Hastings More Radio Arrow FM Limited Media Sound Limited
Worthing More Radio Splash FM Limited Media Sound Limited
Eastbourne and surrounding area More Radio Sovereign FM Limited Media Sound Limited

Analogue Community Radio

Community Radio Fund 2025-26

The Community Radio Fund 2025-2026 has now closed as of Sunday 5 October 2025. The results will be published in the new year. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has made £900,000 available over the 2025-2026 financial year which we will be allocating during this round.  

We expect that the Community Radio Fund Panel will meet in January 2026 to consider the applications and awards will be made following this.

For further information, please contact the Community Radio Fund team at communityradiofund@ofcom.org.uk.

Community radio annual returns

In light of the Community Radio Order 2025 and the removal of the £15,000 limit on annual advertising revenues, Ofcom proposes to cease publishing financial output and volunteer data for all but five services which continue to face restrictions on advertising revenue. The rationale for our proposed approach is available at Statistical release calendar 2025. Ofcom will accept representations until 9 January 2026. Representations can be sent to market.research@ofcom.org.uk.

Licence extensions granted in this period

A five-year extension has been granted to the following:

Service name Licensee Location New expiry date
Radio Folkestone Radio Folkestone CIC Folkestone, England 30 March 2031
Reprezent 107.3 FM Reprezent Ltd London, England 13 April 2031
In2Beats In2Beats Bedford, England 15 April 2031
Biggles FM Biggles FM Biggleswade, England 21 April 2031
Ouse Valley Radio Huntingdon Community Radio (Media) Limited Huntingdon, England 22 April 2031
Marlow MarlowFM Limited Marlow, England 10 May 2031

Following three previous consecutive five-year extensions, a ten-year extension has been granted to the following:

Service name Licensee Location New expiry date
GTFM GTFM (South Wales) Ltd Pontypridd, Wales 31 December 2035
Down Community Radio Limited Down FM Downpatrick, Northern Ireland 29 March 2036
Radio Dawn Community Ethical Media Ltd Nottingham, England 6 April 2036

Restricted service licences

Licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name
Belfast International Watersports Ltd Drive in at Let's Go Hydro
  • Digital Radio
  • Analogue Commercial Radio
  • Analogue Community Radio
  • Restricted service licences

Digital Radio

Grant of small-scale DAB multiplex licences

Licence area Licensee Transmitters licensed Date from
Colchester Essex DAB Limited Colchester – Colchester Hospital 8 October 2025
South London South of the River Digital Radio Limited Croydon; Isleworth; Marylebone; Shooters Hill 13 October 2025
Walsall Walsall DAB Limited Walsall – Preston House 22 October 2025
West London City West Digital C.I.C Egham; Harrow; Hillingdon; Isleworth; Marylebon 15 October 2025

Digital sound programme service (DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name
Telford Community Radio CIC TCMR
Wolverhampton Community Training CIC WCR
TTNS FM Ltd TTNS.FM
Higher Rhythm Ltd Sine FM
Commedia Sheffield Sheffield Live!

Digital sound programme service (DSP) licences which have ceased to be licensed (handed back or revoked) in this period

Licensee Service name Reason
London Tamil Media Ltd IBC Tamil Surrendered
Revival FM (Glasgow) Limited Revival Radio Rescinded

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Wetherby Community Radio Ltd Tempo 107.4 FM Wetherby & Harrogate
Platform B CIC Slack City BTN Brighton
Nu Skool Beatz LTD House FM North London
Radio Hillingdon Radio Hillingdon West London
Royal Holloway, University of London Students’ Union Insanity Radio West London
Phoenix FM Limited Phoenix FM North East London and South West Essex
London Musicians' Collective Limited Resonance FM North London

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Shire Radio Shire Radio Lanarkshire
Radio West Fife SCIO Radio West Fife Stirling and Falkirk 
Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA) Afghan Radio West London
Select Radio Limited Select Radio  South London
Independent Film Media and The Arts CIC Radio West London West London
Phoenix Radio Limited Phoenix FM Halifax

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) which have ceased to be licensed in this period

Licensee Service name Reason
Wigan and St Helens Community Media CIC The Old Courts Radio Revoked
Community Broadcast Initiative Tyneside Ltd Nova Radio North East 102.5fm Rescinded

Radio licensable content services (RLCS) which have ceased to be licensed in this period

Licensee Service name Reason
London Tamil Media Ltd IBC Asia Surrendered
London Tamil Media Ltd IBC Tamil Surrendered

Analogue Commercial Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A seven-year renewal has been granted to the following:

Area Service name Current Licensee
Hereford/Worcester Hits Radio (Herefordshire and Worcestershire) Bauer Radio Limited 

Analogue Community Radio

Community Radio Fund – 2025-26

The Community Radio Fund 2025-2026 has now closed as of Sunday 5 October 2025. The results will be published in the new year. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has made £900,000 available over the 2025-2026 financial year which we will be allocating during this round.  

We expect that the Community Radio Fund Panel will meet in January 2026 to consider the applications and awards will be made following this.

For further information, please contact the Community Radio Fund team at communityradiofund@ofcom.org.uk.

Licence extensions granted in this period

A five-year extension has been granted to the following:

Service name Licensee Location New expiry date
Croydon FM Croydon FM C.I.C. Croydon 8 September 2031

Following three previous consecutive five-year extensions, a ten-year extension has been granted to the following:

Service name Licensee Location New expiry date
Awaz FM Awaz FM Limited Central Glasgow 31 December 2035
Outreach Radio Outreach FM Limited Hampshire 16 December 2035
Wythenshawe FM Wythenshawe Community Media South Manchester 31 December 2035
BFBS  BFBS Salisbury Plain Limited Salisbury Plain 10 December 2036

Licence transfers in this period

Ofcom has approved the transfer of the following community radio licence:

Service name Location Previous Licensee New Licensee
Tameside Radio Tameside, Cheshire Quest Media Network Limited Not Really Here Group Limited
Coast and County Radio Scarborough Town, Whitby and Ryedale Scarborough Radio Ltd Coast and County Radio FM Limited

Analogue community radio licences which have ceased to be licensed in this period

Service name Location Previous Licensee New Licensee
Revival FM Revival FM (Glasgow) Limited Glasgow  Rescinded

Coverage improvement and extension requests

During the last month the services listed below have had their requests for a coverage improvement provisionally agreed, subject to the new technical arrangements going through our usual formal clearance process (this includes Ofcom liaising with a number of outside agencies before changes can be implemented). We have considered the following requests to constitute coverage improvements.

Coverage improvements agreed:

Service name Location
CHBN Truro

Restricted service licences

Licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name
BFBS Shorncliffe Ltd BFBS Gurkha Radio (Warminster)
  • Digital Radio
  • Analogue Commercial Radio
  • Analogue Community Radio

Digital Radio

Small-scale DAB multiplex licence awards

The following small-scale radio multiplex licence awards were made during this period:

Licence area Successful applicant company
Banbury & Bicester Maxxwave Limited  
Enniskillen Ulstermux Limited
Rugby & Daventry  Maxxwave Limited
Stockton-on-Tees RedArmy Group Limited
Western Isles Craoladh Digiteach Ionadail Limited
Weston-super-Mare North Somerset Digital Radio Limited
Worcester Murfin Media (Digital) Limited

The advertisements for Round Eight licence areas, the final planned round of small-scale DAB multiplex licensing, were published on 10 September, with a closing date for applications of 10 December 2025.

Digital sound programme service (DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name
Matthew Kayne Sugar Kayne Radio
Show Works Ltd Backstage Radio
Track Record Corporation Ltd TRK Radio 
Bloodstream Radio Ltd Bloodstream Radio
Kennet Community Radio Kennet Radio
Radio O Media CIC Radio O
Community Sounds and Stories CIC Radio Lear
Soar Sound CIC Soar Sound
STV Audio Ltd STV Radio
West Kent Community Radio West Kent Radio

Digital sound programme service (DSP) licences which have ceased to be licensed (handed back or revoked) in this period

Licensee Service name Reason
Evolve Radio Limited Evolve Radio Rescinded
The Greek Voice of London C.I.C MGR My Greek Radio Rescinded
Light Blue Media Cambridge Ltd Star Radio Surrendered

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Independent Film Media and The Arts CIC Radio West London West London
Phoenix Radio Phoenix FM Halifax
Croydon FM CIC Croydon FM South London
Cutting Edge Communications PVT LTD Spice Digital Bradford
University of Westminster Westminster Waves West London
Flex FM Radio Limited Flex FM South London
Flex FM Radio Limited Flex FM West London
Hospital Radio Glamorgan Hospital Radio Glamorgan Cardiff

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Platform B CIC Slack City LDN South London
Cheshire Media and Arts CIC Strawberry Radio East Cheshire 
Quality Radio Enterprise Ltd Quality Radio Paisley & West Glasgow
Radio West Fife SCIO Radio West Fife Stirling and Falkirk
Lionheart Radio and Media Community Interest Company Lionheart Radio Alnwick and Morpeth
Akash Radio Leeds Ltd Akash Radio West London

Analogue Commercial Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A five-year renewal has been granted to the following:

Area Service name Current Licensee
East Midlands Hits Radio (East Midlands) Bauer Radio Limited 

Analogue Community Radio

Community Radio Fund – 2025-26

The Community Radio Fund 2025-2026 has now closed as of Sunday 5 October 2025. The results will be published in the new year. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has made £900,000 available over the 2025-2026 financial year which we will be allocating during this round. 

We expect that the Community Radio Fund Panel will meet in January 2026 to consider the applications. However, scheduling will depend on the volume of applications we receive.

For further information, please contact the Community Radio Fund team at communityradiofund@ofcom.org.uk.

Licence extensions granted in this period

A five-year extension has been granted to the following:

Service name Licensee Location New expiry date
Dales Radio Dales Radio Limited Yorkshire 10 January 2031
Rinse FM Rinse FM Inner London 6 February 2031
Link FM The Pakistan Muslim Centre (Sheffield) Limited Sheffield 20 February 2031

Following three previous consecutive five-year extensions, a ten-year extension has been granted to the following:

Service name Licensee Location New expiry date
BFBS BFBS Edinburgh Limited Edinburgh 13 August 2036
Cross Rhythms City Radio Cross Rhythms Stoke-on-trent 31 December 2035
BFBS BFBS Aldershot Limited Aldershot 10 December 2036
103 The Eye The Eye FM Limited Vale of Belvoir 31 December 2035
Express FM Express FM (Portsmouth) Limited Portsmouth 19 March 2036
Forest FM Forest Community Radio Verwood 8 July 2036

Licence transfers in this period

Ofcom has approved the transfer of the following community radio licence:

Service name Location Previous Licensee New Licensee
Coast and County Radio Scarborough Town, Whitby and Ryedale Scarborough Radio Ltd Coast and County Radio FM Ltd

Analogue community radio licences which have ceased to be licensed in this period

Service name Location Previous Licensee New Licensee
SWUFM SWU.FM Ltd Bristol Expired
Afro Caribbean Millennium Centre New Style Radio 98.7 FM Birmingham  Rescinded
  • Digital Radio
  • Analogue Commercial Radio
  • Analogue Community Radio

Digital Radio

Grant of small-scale DAB multiplex licences

The following small-scale radio multiplex licences were granted during this period:

Licence area Licnesee Transmitters licenced Date from
Loughborough Maxxwave Limited Loughborough - University  14 August 2025

The following small-scale radio multiplex licence awards were revoked during this period:

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and digital additional sound (DAS) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS)
Lincs Sound Ltd Lincs Sound DSPS (local)
Oast Radio CIC Weald Radio DSPS (local)
BBA Media Westside Radio DSPS (local)
Radio panj Ltd Radio Panj DSPS (local)
Flex FM Radio Ltd Flex FM DSPS (local)
Belfast FM Ltd Belfast 89 DSPS (local)
Creslow Skunkworks CIC Ground Zero DSPS (local)
Liberty Radio Ltd Liberty Radio DSPS (local)
Drift Radio CIC Drift Radio DSPS (local)

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and Digital additional sound (DAS) licences transferred during this period

Service name Previous Licensee New Licensee Licence type (DSPS or DAS)
Radio Southend Radio Kube Limited Kube Media Limited DSPS

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and Digital additional sound (DAS) licences which have ceased to be licensed (handed back or revoked) in this period

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS) Reason
Panda Podcasts Ltd Podcast Radio DSPS (local) Surrendered
HCTIWS Preston Ltd Juice Radio DSPS (local) Rescinded

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Akash Radio Leeds Ltd Akash Radio  West London
Lionheard Radio and Media Community Interest Company Lionheart Radio Alnwick and Morpeth 
Radio West Fife SCIO Radio West Fife Stirling and Falkirk
Shire Radio Shire Radio Lanarkshire
Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA) Afghan Radio West London

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Bolton FM Community Interest Company Radio Bury Bolton and Bury
The Panjabi Centre Ltd Desi Radio West London
The Flash On Air Limited  The Flash Portsmouth
Poppyland Community Radio Poppyland Community Radio Norwich

Analogue Commercial Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A five-year renewal has been granted to the following:

Area Service name Current Licensee
Medway Towns KMFM KM Media Group Limited  
Greater London Radio X XFM Limited

Local radio licence transfers

Ofcom has approved the transfer of the following local commercial licences:

Area Service name Reason New Licensee
London Borough of Havering Time 107.5 FM Lyca Media II Ltd Thames Radio Limited

Coverage improvement and extension requests 

During the last month the service below had its request for a change in its technical parameters agreed. Details of the change requested and rationale for our decision are listed below.

  • Digital Radio
  • Analogue Commercial Radio
  • Analogue Community Radio
  • Restricted Service Licences

Digital Radio

Small-scale DAB multiplex licences awards

The following small-scale radio multiplex licence awards were made during this period:

Licence area Successful applicant company
  Ards Peninsula     East Antrim Community SSDAB Limited 
  Bridgwater     Sedgemoor FM CIC  
  Exmouth & Dawlish     Exmouth DAB Limited  
  Loughborough & Coalville     Maxxwave Limited  
  Ringwood, Verwood & Fordingbridge     Forest Community Radio Limited  

We were unable to make a licence award to the application for the North Norfolk area submitted by Partridge Digital Limited, which was also assessed during July.

Digital sound programme service (DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name
North East Radio (Scot) Ltd     North East Radio Scotland  
Caledonia TX Ltd     Rock Scot  
Rhondda Radio Ltd     Rhondda Radio  
Bolton FM Community Interest Company     Bolton FM  

Digital sound programme service (DSP) licences which have ceased to be licensed (handed back or revoked) in this period

Licensee Service name Reason
  Express FM Ltd     Express FM     Surrendered  
  Vita Radio Ltd     Vita Radio     Surrendered  
  Sunoh Edinburgh Ltd     Sunoh     Surrendered  

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period

Licensee Service name Area
 Cheshire Media and Arts CIC       Strawberry Radio   Cheshire East  
  Poppyland Community Radio      Poppyland Community Radio   Norwich    
   Massive Hits Ltd      Massive Hits Radio   Corby and Kettering  
  Quality Radio Enterprise Ltd      Quality Radio   Paisley and West Glasgow  

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Broadcasting Initiative Northern Development CIC          Nova Radio Northeast   Newcastle and Gateshead  
Radio Northumberland Limited        Radio Northumberland   Alnwick and Morpeth  
Johnstone Sound Ltd      Johnstone Sound Community Radio   Paisley and West Glasgow  

Analogue Commercial Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A 10-year renewal has been granted to the following:

Area Service name Current Licensee
Peterborough   Smooth Radio   Connect Radio Limited  

Analogue commercial radio licences which have ceased to be licensed in this period

Area Service name Reason
Radio Ceredigion Limited Nation Radio   Surrender  

Analogue Community Radio

Licence extensions granted in this period

A five-year extension has been granted to the following:nameReason

Service name Licensee Location New expiry date
Glow Radio    Rush FM Limited Farnborough 30 March 2031
Skylark      Skylark Sounds Dartmoor     20 October 2030
Funky SX    The Funky Academy Limited   Essex    15 March 2031   
CandoFM   Furness Broadcast Media CIC Barrow-in-Furness 22 November 2030  
Koast Radio Koast Radio Limited   Ashington   10 December 2030  
Radio Plus   Coventry and Warwickshire Media Community Limited (CWMC)   Coventry   19 December 2030

Following three previous consecutive five-year extensions, a ten-year extension has been granted to the following:

Service name Licensee Location New expiry date
ALL FM   ALL Arts & Media Ltd South West Manchester   31 December 2035  
Resonance FM   London Musicians’ Collective Limited Central London    31 December 2035  
Tempo 107.4 FM   Wetherby Community Radio Ltd     Wetherby   10 September 2036  
Desi Radio   The Panjabi Centre Ltd London   31 December 2035  

Restricted service licences

Period of high demand – 2026

On Monday 11 August 2025 we will open a one-week application window for anyone wishing to apply to hold a restricted service licence (RSL) to broadcast during 2026’s recognised period of high demand (any dates between Thursday 12 Feb and Monday 23 March 2026 inclusive), which includes the period of Ramadan. Applications must be received by 5pm on Friday 15 August 2025.

For more information, please visit the RSL pages on our website.

A round-up of Ofcom’s broadcast radio licensing activity in June 2025. This edition also includes information about the upcoming application window for RSL licensing during 2026’s period of high demand, which includes Ramadan, and the revised General procedures for investigating breaches of broadcast licences.  

A new version of the General procedures for investigating breaches of broadcast licences came into force on 23 June, following a public consultation. Further information about this can be found in our statement.

  • Digital Radio
  • Analogue Commercial Radio
  • Analogue Community Radio
  • Restricted Services Licences

Digital Radio

Small-scale DAB multiplex licences transferred during this period

Licence area Previous Licensee New Licensee
Cheshire Mid small-scale Cheshire Radio Ltd Niocast Digital Ltd

Small-scale DAB coverage changes

Coverage change requests were agreed for the following small-scale radio multiplexes during this period:

Licence area Licensee Description Coverage change Date Agreed
Manchester   Manchester DAB C.I.C   To add a new transmitter located at City Tower, Manchester, to provide more robust coverage in Manchester city centre.   From 985,000 to 1.049m adults (a 6.4% increase in the size of the licence area).   29 May 2025
Newcastle & Gateshead Tyneside Community Digital  C.I.C Power increase to improve coverage in parts of central Newcastle. This request was subject to a public consultation because it was considered an extension to include an adjoining locality - for further details see our Statement. From 489,000 to 567,000 adults (a 15.8% increase in the size of the licence area). 02 June 2025

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and digital additional sound (DAS) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS)
Thomas Alan McAteer Best City Radio DSPS (local)
Hindu Sanskar Radio Hindu Sanskar Radio DSPS (local)
Sid Valley Radio Ltd Sid Valley DSPS (local)

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and Digital additional sound (DAS) licences transferred during this period

Service name Previous Licensee New Licensee Licence type (DSPS or DAS)
Style Radio Shadow Promotions (East Anglia) Ltd Wireless Audio Processing Ltd DSPS

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and Digital additional sound (DAS) licences which have ceased to be licensed (handed back, rescinded or revoked) in this period

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS) Reason
News Radio UK Limited News Radio UK DSPS Rescinded
Release Radio Broadcasting Ltd Release FM DSPS Surrendered

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Cheshire Radio Ltd   Cheshire ONE Cheshire (mid)
Platform B CIC Slack City LDN South London
The Flash On Air Limited The Flash Portsmouth 
The Panjabi Centre Ltd Desi Radio West London

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Bath Hospital Radio  Bath Hospital Radio Bath & Midsomer Norton
Radio Diamond CIC Radio Diamond Manchester
BBA Media Westside Radio West London 
Riverside Broadcasting CIC Riverside Radio South London

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) Key Commitment change during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Affinity Media NE CIC Affinity Radio South Shields & Tynemouth

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) which have ceased to be licensed in this period

Licensee Service name Reason
First Ox Digital Ltd Fox Digital Surrender

Analogue Commercial Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A five-year renewal has been granted to the following:

Area Service name Current Licensee
Grimsby Greatest Hits Radio Bauer Radio Limited

Technical change requests

During the last month the service below had its request for a change in its technical parameters agreed. Details of the change requested and rationale for our decision are listed below:

  • Digital Radio
  • Analogue Community Radio
  • Restricted Services Licences

Digital Radio

Radio multiplex licence renewals

The following radio multiplex licences have been granted a renewal during this period:

Multiplex Licensee New expiry date
Mid and West Wales MuxCo Wales Limited 31 December 2030
Derbyshire Now Digital (East Midlands) Limited 31 December 2030
Ayr Now Digital Limited 31 December 2030
Bournemouth Now Digital Limited 31 December 2030
Essex Now Digital Limited 31 December 2030

Small-scale DAB multiplex licence awards

The following small-scale radio multiplex licence awards were made during this period:

Licence area Successful applicant company
Huntingdon Huntingdon Digital Limited
Nuneaton & Hinckley  Maxxwave Limited
Walsall Walsall DAB Limited
Wetherby Wetherby Community Radio Limited
Yeovil Radio Ninesprings

Note that we also announced during May the multiplex licence areas that Ofcom plans to advertise in Round Eight of small-scale DAB licensing later this year.

Grant of small-scale DAB multiplex licences

The following small-scale radio multiplex licences were granted during this period:

Licence area Licensee Transmitters licenced Date from
Portsmouth Angel Radio Limited Fort Widley 29 May 2025

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and digital additional sound (DAS) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS)
Radio Burnley Ltd Radio Burnley DSPS (local)
James Clark Cinque Ports Radio DSPS (local)

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and Digital additional sound (DAS) licences which have ceased to be licensed (handed back or revoked) in this period

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS) Reason
River Radio Ltd River Radio DSPS Rescinded
UKMusicGroup Ltd UNITY DAB DSPS Revoked
Big Beat Brighton Big Beat Brighton DSPS Surrendered

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Victory Radio Limited Victory Radio Portsmouth
Broadcasting Initiative Northern Development CIC Nova Radio Newcastle and Gateshead
Radio Northumberland Radio Northumberland Alnwick and Morpeth 
Bolton FM Community Interest Company Radio Bury Bolton and Bury
Johnstone Sound Ltd Johnstone Sound Community Radio Paisley and West Glasgow

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Cultural Media Enterprise Unity 101 Community Radio Southampton
Advance Learning Partnership ALP Radio Durham

Analogue Community Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A five-year renewal has been granted to the following:

Service name Licensee Location New expiry date
MKFM MKFM Limited Milton Keynes 6 September 2030

Following three previous consecutive five-year extensions, a ten-year extension has been granted to the following:

Service name Licensee Location New expiry date
Unity 101 Community Radio Cultural Media Enterprise Southampton 7 December 2030

Restricted Service Licences

Licences issued during this period

Licensee Service Name
Tony O'Neil Radio Mi Amigo
  • Digital Radio
  • Analogue Commericial Radio
  • Restricted Services Licences

Digital Radio

Small-scale DAB multiplex licence awards

The following small-scale radio multiplex licence awards were made during this period:

Licence area Successful application company
Carlisle & Penrith Cumbria.Digital Limted
Corby & Kettering Kettering and Corby Broadcasting Company Limited
East Devon ExeDAB Limited

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and digital additional sound (DAS) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS)
Media In and Out Ltd Polish Radio London (PRL) DSP (local)
Mearns Community Radio Ltd Mearns FM DSP (local)

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and Digital additional sound (DAS) licences which have ceased to be licensed (handed back or revoked) in this period

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS) Reason
Frank McLaughlin  Riverside 101 DSP (local) Surrendered
Duncan Barkes Pompey Sound DSP (local) Surrendered

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Bath Hospital Radio Bath Sound Bath and Midsomer Norton
Hindu Sanskar Radio Hindu Sanskar Radio Leicester 
UWE Students Union  HUB Radio Bristol
Your Choice Radio Your Choice Radio Lanarkshire 
Radio Diamond CIC Radio Diamond Manchester
Riverside Broadcasting C.I.C Riverside Radio South London

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Cultural Media Enterprise Unity 101 Community Radio Southampton
Boreham Wood & Elstree Community Radio Ltd Boreham Wood Radio (BWR) South Herfordshire 
Express FM (Portsmouth) Limited Express FM Portsmouth
BFBS Colchester Limited BFBP Colchester Colchester and Clacton 

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) which have ceased to be licenced in this period

Licensee Service name Reason
More Muzic Radio  More Muzic Radio Surrendered

Analogue Commercial Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A five-year renewal has been granted to the following:

Area Service name Previous Licensee  New expiry date
Radio Network Radio Network Limited Newark on Trent 1 May 2030
Switch Radio Switch Radio Castle Vale 29 April 2030
Vibe 1 Stafford Radio Broadcasting Limited Stafford 24 April 2030
ABC's YourFM Portadown Community Radio Limited Portadown 11 June 2030
Belfast 89FM  Belfast FM Limited Belfast 29 June 2030
Future Radio The NR5 Project Norwich 1 July 2030
Cross Counties Radio Cross Counties Radio Magna Park Lutterworth 24 July 2030
Inspiration FM  Inspiration Radio Limited Northampton 22 July 2030
Coast and County Radio Scarborough Radio Ltd Scarborough  20 October 2030
RWSfm 103.3 Radio West Suffolk Limited Bury St Edmunds 12 August 2030
Cam FM Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin Student Radio Limited Cambridge 1 October 2030
Sound Radio Sound Radio CIC Towyn 10 January 2031
Coast FM - Causeway Coast's Blast 106 North West Student & Youth Community Radio Limited Coleraine  20 July 2030
Zetland FM East Cleveland Community Radio Limited Redcar and Clevehand 30 August 2030
Akash Radio Leeds Akash Radio Leeds Ltd Leeds 22 August 2030

Coverage improvement and extension requests

During the last month the services listed below have had their requests for a coverage improvement provisionally agreed, subject to the new technical arrangements going through our usual formal clearance process (this includes Ofcom liaising with a number of outside agencies before changes can be implemented). We have considered the following requests to constitute coverage improvements.

Coverage improvements agreed:

Service name Location
WCR Warminster
Y01  York

Please note:

The success of an application is, amongst other things, dependent on frequency availability and whether there may be an increase in harmful outgoing interference to other stations. In every case we need to take account of other services (community, commercial and BBC) on the same frequency or an adjacent one to yours (or to a frequency that we may be considering for a relay). Please see the guidance document (PDF, 325.1 KB) for further information.

Restricted Service Licences

Licences issued during this period

Licensee Service Name`
Outreach Radio Ltd Outreach Gold
Nicholas Millar Love (Warbler Remix)

Licences which have ceased to be licenced in this period

Licensee  Service name Reason
Relevention Ltd (formerly known as German Events Ltd) Drive-in Surrendered
  • Digital Radio
  • Analogue Commercial Radio
  • Analogue Community Radio
  • Stakeholder Engagement

Digital Radio

Radio multiplex licence renewals

Multiplex Licensee New expiry date
Ayr Now Digital Limited 31 December 2030
Bournemouth Now Digital Limited 31 December 2030
Essex Now Digital Limited 31 December 2030

Small-scale DAB multiplex licence awards

The following small-scale radio multiplex licence awards were made during this period:

Licence area Successful applicant company
Barrow-in-Furness Furness Broadcast Media C.I.C.
Portadown & Craigavon ABC Community SSDAB Limited
Swansea Swansea Digital Broadcasting Limited

Grant of small-scale DAB multiplex licences

The following small-scale radio multiplex licences were granted during this period: 

Licence area Licensee Transmitters licensed Date from
Merthyr & Rhondda Cynon Taff GTFM (South Wales) Limited Aberdare - Leisure Centre; Ferndale – Shooting Club; Mountain Ash; Ystrad - Nant y Gwyddon Landfill. 12 March 2025
Poole, Purbeck & Wimborne   Wide Digital Limited Nine Barrow Down. 20 March 2025

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and digital additional sound (DAS) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS)
Voice of Hope Radio Voice of Hope Radio DSPS (local)
Spume FM Ltd Spume FM DSPS (local)
The Lab Music Studio Ltd House FM DSPS (local)
Phoenix FM Ltd Phoenix FM DSPS (local)
Horizon Radio Ltd Horizon Radio DSPS (local)
Cheshire Media and Arts CIC Strawberry Radio DSPS (local)
Philip Richards Hampden Wall Radio Broadstairs DSPS (local)

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and Digital additional sound (DAS) licences which have ceased to be licensed (handed back or revoked) in this period

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS) Reason
Endorse Radio Limited Endorse Radio DSPS (local) Rescinded
Sanity Radio Limite All Hits & Giggles! DSPS (local) Rescinded
Sara-Int Ltd Polish Radio London 24 DSPS (local) Surrendered

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Advance Learning Partnership ALP Radio Durham
Cultural Media Enterprise Unity 101 Community Radio Southampton

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Koast Radio Limited Koast Radio  Alnwick and Morpeth
Petersfield Community Radio Ltd Petersfield's Shine Radio Alton, Petersfield and Haslemere

Analogue Commercial Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A 10-year renewal has been granted to the following:

Area Service name Current Licensee
Caernarfon Capital Marcher Radio Group Limited
Chelmsford Radio Essex Radio Essex Limited

A five-year renewal has been granted to the following:

Area Service name Current Licensee
Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath More Radio Media Sound Limited

Local radio licence transfers

Ofcom has approved the transfer of the following local commercial licences:

Area Service name Previous Licensee New Licensee
Cambridge Star Radio Light Blue Media Cambridge Limited Bauer Media Audio Limited acting as a general partner for Bauer Media Audio LP

Analogue Community Radio

Licence extensions granted this period 

A five year extension has been granted to the following:

Service name Licensee Location New expiry date
Inspire FM House of Abraham Luton 9 August 2030
Ashdown Radio Ashdown Radio Limited East Sussex 30 June 2030

Licence transfers in this period

Ofcom has approved the transfer of the following community radio licence.

Service name Location Previous Licensee New Licnesee
Calon FM Wrexham Wrexham Community Broadcasting CIC Premier Radio CIC

Stakeholder Engagement

In February 2025 bodies representing the community radio sector met with Ofcom. A note of the meeting is available at Community radio - Ofcom.

  • Digital Radio
  • Analogue Commercial Radio
  • Analogue Community Radio
  • Restricted Services Licences

Digital Radio

Small-scale DAB multiplex licence awards

The following small-scale radio multiplex licence awards were made during this period:

Licence area Successful applicant company
Ayr, Troon & Irvine Muxcast 9 Ltd
Cumbernauld & Coatbridge Tower DAB Ltd
Lanarkshire Lanarkshire DAB Ltd
North Ayrshire North Ayreshire Broadcasting Ltd
Paisley & West Glasgow Ross Inc Ltd

Grant of small-scale DAB multiplex licences

The following small-scale radio multiplex licences were granted during this period: 

Licence area Licensee Transmitters licensed Date from
Alnwick & Morpeth Northumberland Community Digital C.I.C Alnwick - Longhoughton Quarry; Morpeth – Shotton. 18 February 2025

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and digital additional sound (DAS) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS)
Lets Groove Media Ltd Divine Radio London DSPS
Mission Radio Love Music Love Life Ltd Mission Radio 90.6 DSPS
Cultural Media Enterprise Unity 101 Community Radio DSPS
Craig Watts Cyndicut Radio DSPS 
Mohammad Naseer Radio Ramadhan Bristol DSPS 

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and Digital additional sound (DAS) licences which have ceased to be licensed (handed back or revoked) in this period

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS) Reason
Outreach FM Ltd Skylinegold Radio DSPS Surrendered
Launchpad One Ltd Strawberry Radio  DSPS Surrendered

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Boreham Wood & Elstree Community Radio Ltd Boreham Wood Radio  South Hertfordshire
Koast Radio Limited Koast Radio Alnwick and Morpeth
BFBS Colchester Limited BFBS Colchester Colchester and Clacton 

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Cheshire Media and Arts CIC Strawberry Radio Stockport
Welwyn Hatfield Radio LTD Welwyn Hatfield Radio South Hertfordshire
Radio Chelmsford CIC City Sound Chelmsford
Community Action Dacorum Radio Dacorum South Hertfordshire

Analogue Commercial Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A seven-year renewal has been granted to the following:

Area Service name Current Licensee
East Midlands  Smooth Radio Smooth Radio Midlands Limited
Chester Chester’s Dee Radio Dee 106.3 Limited

A five-year renewal has been granted to the following:

Area Service name Current Licensee
Yorkshire   Capital Galaxy Radio Yorkshire Limited

Analogue commercial radio licences which have ceased to be licensed in this period

Licensee Service name Reason
Oban FM Community Radio Ltd Oban FM Surrendered

Analogue Community Radio

Community Radio Fund – Round 2, 2024-25

Ofcom’s Community Radio Fund Panel (‘the Panel’) met on Tuesday 28 January 2025 to consider applications in the second round of funding for the 2024-2025 financial year.

The Panel considered each application and awarded funding based on the information provided, and with reference to the Community Radio Fund (‘the Fund’) guidance notes. For each grant bid the Panel decided whether to make a full award, a partial award or not to award any funding.

At the meeting:

  • 80 applications for grants were considered;
  • The total amount of funding requested in these applications was £1,852,282;
  • 15 applicants were awarded grants which totaled £261,476;
  • 65 applicants were not awarded a grant; and,
  • The grants awarded ranged from £5,752 up to £30,000 for individual positions, with an average of £17,432. A summary of the awards is at the end of this statement.

Licence extensions granted this period 

A five year extension has been granted to the following:

Service name Licensee Location New expiry date
Radio Newark Radio Newark Limited Newark on Trent 1 May 2030

Restricted service licences

Licences which have ceased to be licensed in this period

Licensee Service name Reason
 UWE Students Union  Hub Radio Surrendered
Trustees of Radio Glangwili Radio Glangwili Surrendered
  • Digital Radio
  • Analogue Commercial Radio
  • Analogue Community Radio

Digital Radio

Grant of small-scale DAB multiplex licences

The following small-scale radio multiplex licences were granted during this period: 

Licence area Licensee Transmitters licensed Date from
South Hertfordshire South Herts DAB Limited St. Albans - St. Peter's Church; Watford - YMCA. 20 January 2025

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and digital additional sound (DAS) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS)
Marvin Morris Congregation Room 22 DSPS
Now Ayrshire Radio Ltd Now Ayrshire Radio DSPS
Hellas Radio UK Ltd Hellas Radio UK DSPS
ASJ Digital Media Ltd Atomix Radio DSPS 
Viral Tribe Entertainment Ltd Soho Radio DSPS 

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and Digital additional sound (DAS) licences which have ceased to be licensed (handed back or revoked) in this period

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS) Reason
Fylde Coast Radio Broadcast Fylde Coast Radio  DSPS Surrendered

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period

Licensee Service name Area
The Vibe Watford Limited Vibe South Hertfordshire 
Express FM (Portsmouth) Limited Express FM Portsmouth

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Radio Wimborne Ltd Radio Wimborne Poole, Purbeck and Wimborne
Verulam Community Radio Ltd Mix 92.6 South Hertfordshire 

Analogue Commercial Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A ten-year renewal has been granted to the following:

Area Service name Current Licensee
Edinburgh Forth 1 Bauer Radio Limited
Humberside  Hits Radio (East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire) Bauer Radio Limited
Plymouth Heart Plymouth Sound Ltd
Teeside  Hits Radio (North East) Bauer Radio Limited
Nottingham/Derby Capital GWR Group Limited
Norwhich and Great Yarmouth Capital Radio Broadland Limited
Maidstone & Medway/East Kent Heart Gloval Radio Management Limited
South Hampshire  Capital/Heart  Global Radio Hempshire Ltd
Wolverhampton, Shrewbury and Telford Hits Radio (Black Country and Shropshire) Bauer Radio Limited
Northern Ireland Cool FM/Downtown Radio Downtown Radio Limited
Reading/Basingstoke & Andover Heart Thames Valley Broadcasting Limited
Cambrirdge & Newmarket Heart Mid Anglia Radio Limited

A seven-year renewal has been granted to the following:

Area Service name Current Licensee
Stirling & Falkirk Central FM Central FM Ltd

Coverage amendment requests 

During the last month the services listed below have requested an amendment to their technical parameters. The application(s) are published on the commercial radio page of our website. Ofcom will accept representations up to one month following publication before we make a formal decision. Representations can be sent to broadcast.licensing@ofcom.org.uk.

Service Name Location
Radio Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire

Analogue Community Radio

Community Radio Fund – Round 2, 2024-25

The Panel met to discuss applications received in this round on 28 January 2025. DCMS provided an uplift of £50,000 in this round bringing the total amount of funding available to £262,005.

Ofcom will publish a statement announcing the successful applicants in due course.

For further information, please contact Ofcom's Community Radio team at communityradiofund@ofcom.org.uk.

Licence exntensions granted this period 

A five year exenstion has been granted to the following:

Service name Licensee Location New expiry date
Beverley FM East Yorkshire Broadcasting Limited Beverley  19 January 2030
CamGlen Radio Healthy N Happy Cambusland 18 March 2030
Radio LaB University of Bedfordshire  Luton 21 February 2029
Riviera FM  Riviera FM Limited Torbay 2 April 2030

During the last month the services listed below have had their requests for a coverage improvement provisionally agreed, subject to the new technical arrangements going through our usual formal clearance process (this includes Ofcom liaising with a number of outside agencies before changes can be implemented). We have considered the following requests to constitute coverage improvements.

Coverage improvements agreed:

Service name Location
Clinque Ports Romney Marsh

Restricted service licences

Licences which have ceased to be licensed in this period

Licensee Service name Reason
Trustees of Radio Glangwili Radio Glangwili Surrendered
  • Digital Radio
  • Analogue Commercial Radio
  • Analogue Community Radio

Digital Radio

Radio multiplex licence renewals

The following radio multiplex licences have been granted a renewal during this period:

Multiplex Licensee New expiry date
London 3 The Digital Radio Group (London) Limited 31 December 2030

Small-scale DAB multiplex licence awards

The following small-scale radio multiplex licence awards were made during this period:

Licence area Successful applicant company
Halifax   Halifax DAB Limited  
Huddersfield   Huddersfield DAB Limited  
South Craven, Wharfdale & Worth Valley   Air Wharfe Limited  
Sunderland   Muxcast 6 Limited  
Wigan   Wigan and St Helens DAB Limited  

Grant of small-scale DAB multiplex licences

The following small-scale radio multiplex licences were granted during this period: 

License area Licensee Transmitters licensed Date from
Boston, Spalding & Skegness East Lincolnshire Broadcasting C.I.C Boston – Riverside Industrial Estate; Old Bolingbroke – Highfield Farm. 06 December 2024
Southend City DAB Limited Southend – Southend University Hospital. 16 December 2024

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and digital additional sound (DAS) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS)
Forever Broadcasting Ltd Classic Hits Radio Northern Ireland DSPS (local)
Store the Sun Ltd Subjam 1047 DSPS (local)
Great Driffield Radio Ltd Great Outdoors Radio DSPS (local)
Top Rizz International Music Ltd Top Rizz Radio DSPS (local)
Alex Kelly AJK Eclectic Music Radio DSPS (local)
Hospital Radio Bedside Dorset Coast Radio DSPS (local)
The Best Songs on the Radio Ltd Bournemouth One DSPS (local)

Digital sound programme service (DSP) and Digital additional sound (DAS) licences which have ceased to be licensed (handed back or revoked) in this period

Licensee Service name Licence type (DSPS or DAS) Reason
Meyhem Media Limited Metal Meyhem Radio DSPS Revoked
Invictus Holdings Southwest Limited SoulTrain Radio DSPS Revoked
NotesPerfect Roots N' Rockers DSPS Revoked
An individual Trickstar Radio DSPS Revoked
Liverpool's More Music Station Ltd South Radio Liverpool DSPS Surrendered

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) applications received during this period

Licensee Service name Area
Radio Chelmsford CIC City Sound Chelmsford
Petersfield Community Radio Ltd Petersfield's Shine Radio Alton, Petersfield and Haslemere
Welwyn Hatfield Radio Ltd Welwyn Hatfield Radio South Herfordshire
Radio Wimborne Ltd Radio Wimborne Poole, Purbeck and Wimborne

Community digital sound programme service (C-DSP) licences issued during this period

Licensee Service name Area
TMCRFM Limited TMCR Doncaster

Analogue Commercial Radio

Licence renewals granted in this period

A seven-year renewal has been granted to the following:

Area Service name Current Licensee
Stirling, Falkirk, Clackmannanshire Central FM Central FM Limited
Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough Connect FM Connect Radio Limited
Gloucester & Cheltenham Heart Chiltern Radio Limited

Analogue Community Radio

Community Radio Fund – Round 2, 2024-25

The second round of the Community Radio Fund 2024-25 is now closed. The awarding Panel will meet in late January 2025 to consider the applications.

Please follow the above link to access the guidance notes and application forms.

Applicants will be emailed with the outcome of their applications after the meeting has taken place and we will publish the full list of awardees on our web page.

For further information, please contact Ofcom's Community Radio team at communityradiofund@ofcom.org.uk.