Frequency Finder UK (www.frequencyfinder.org.uk)

Opinion: The Future of DAB Radio England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Summary DAB now accounts for more than 40% of radio listening in the UK and is likely to be the most popular radio platform in the 2020s. However, further development is needed to maximise choice, coverage and sound quality while controlling costs. The long-term solution to balancing choice, cost and sound quality is DAB+. However, a full switchover could take 5 years as this needs all receivers to be compatible. Coverage improvements are also a long-term project, potentially funded by closing AM transmitters over the next 5 years and possibly some FM transmitters after that. In the short term, there are three priorities: • Determine the requirements for additional national, local and small-scale DAB multiplexes from the mid- 2020s onwards so that suitable new spectrum for this can be identified, coordinated with neighbouring countries and cleared of non-broadcast users, a process that will take several years. • Ensure that the coverage of local DAB multiplexes matches local AM services, many of which could be decommissioned over the next few years. • Prevent the sale of new DAB radios that are not compatible with DAB+ and educate listeners of the need to upgrade or replace old DAB radios that cannot receive DAB+

1. Introduction At the end of 2017, 61% of British homes and 30% of cars had DAB receivers, and DAB accounted for 36% of radio listening. DAB uptake is increasing by about 2% a year in homes and 5% a year in cars. Broadcasters have recently invested in improving coverage of the existing multiplexes, a new national multiplex and new radio stations. A new tier of small-scale multiplexes will be launched over the next few years, enabling more small commercial and community stations to join the DAB platform. Coverage improvements, new stations and AM transmitter closures will increase DAB’s share of listening to some extent. However, the presence of DAB in most new cars is likely to be the major driver of increased DAB listening. This will also encourage more people to adopt DAB (or other digital platforms) for in-home listening. DAB is therefore likely to overtake FM as the most popular radio listening platform in England, Scotland and Wales (but not Northern Ireland) during 2020. However, there are a number of limitations of the current DAB system that will drive some listeners and broadcasters to other platforms, whether FM/AM, internet (including mobile internet and smart speakers) or radio via TV. These limitations are choice, capacity, and cost; sound quality; and coverage, each of which will be discussed in turn. A move from the classic DAB standard to DAB+ is a major part of the solution to all of these problems and a likely process is discussed. Finally, the permanent implementation of small-scale DAB is discussed.

2. Choice, Capacity and Cost Choice is the main motivation for listeners to use DAB. Programming that is not available on FM is particularly important. However, since 2013, many unique services have reduced DAB coverage or left DAB altogether. These included Absolute 60s, Absolute 80s, Absolute 90s (partially re-instated), Jazz FM (partially re-instated), Kerrang, Planet Rock, Premier and Team Rock Radio. Where these stations have been replaced, it has typically been by more mainstream services. Thus, much of the audience of these stations has migrated from DAB to other digital platforms on which these stations are still available. There are two main reasons for stations reducing DAB coverage. The first is cost. For example, Digital One has been increasing carriage costs now that the multiplex is full and there is competition for space. Cost reduction was also the motivation for closing the MXR regional multiplexes, which has led to the local multiplexes in the Northern cities and Birmingham becoming full. Thus, the second reason for stations reducing DAB coverage is lack of capacity. For example, when Bauer expanded DAB coverage of Magic and Kisstory, it had to reduce coverage of Absolute 60s, Absolute 90s and Kerrang to make space. Commercial radio has adopted two measures to address the problems of DAB capacity and transmission cost. The first is to broadcast many music stations in mono, which both reduces the transmission cost per station and Opinion: The Future of DAB Radio in the UK Frequency Finder UK (www.frequencyfinder.org.uk) enables more stations to be accommodated within a multiplex. The second is the introduction (from 2016) of the Sound Digital multiplex, which covers 77% of the population (indoors), providing a lower cost ‘national’ radio platform. This has enabled several stations to increase their DAB coverage. However, some stations suffered reduced coverage as a result of moving to the Sound Digital multiplex from Digital One. Even with these developments, finding capacity for new services on DAB will remain a problem over the next few years. The Sound Digital multiplex was full from launch, while space on the Digital One multiplex freed up by stations moving across to Sound Digital was filled by mid 2017. Meanwhile, most of the capacity on the local multiplexes freed up by Heat, Kisstory and other stations moving to the Sound Digital multiplex was filled up straight away. Thus, DAB capacity on the national and many local multiplexes is only available when a station leaves DAB or reduces bit rate (e.g., by moving to DAB+). The new small-scale DAB multiplexes will provide some extra capacity in these areas, but their coverage will be limited. In principle, further DAB capacity could be found by licensing new multiplexes, both nationally and for some cities. However, this would require relocation of non-broadcast services from VHF band III and/or a reduction in the spectrum allocated to small-scale DAB. It would also require coordination with neighbouring countries, which is more difficult for larger scale multiplexes, particularly those near the coast. Because of this, any new national multiplex and some additional local multiplexes would have to be accommodated within Channels 5A to 7B, requiring the relevant channels to be cleared of non-broadcast users first, which will take many years. Thus, decisions need to be taken now on whether to allocate additional spectrum to DAB in the mid 2020s to enable it to be cleared ready for use. To be commercially viable, a new multiplex must also be more than half full. Increasing DAB capacity too quickly would result in the available audience being shared across more stations, reducing audiences for some stations and thus increasing the transmission cost per listener. A more efficient way of increasing DAB capacity is to switch to DAB+. This is 2-3 times more efficient than classic DAB, enabling a doubling of the number of stations and more stereo broadcasting without the need for more radio spectrum. The increase in competition is also mitigated by a reduction in transmission cost per station. A transition from DAB to DAB+ is also likely to be gradual (see Section 5), so the number of stations would likely increase at a similar rate to the overall DAB audience. However, a major obstacle is receiver compatibility; most DAB radios purchased before 2013 and even some newer models cannot receive DAB+. Commercial broadcasters thus have to make a business decision as to whether a new DAB+ service would attract more listeners than an existing service would lose by switching format from original DAB to DAB+. On this basis, Global Radio switched several services to DAB+ in 2019. The BBC has an obligation to ensure that its services are as widely available as practically possible, so is unlikely to switch existing services to DAB+ for several years. Once the transition to DAB+ is completed, additional multiplexes will be needed if capacity is to increase.

3. Coverage DAB and FM reception characteristics are quite different. DAB+ either gives perfect reception or doesn't work at all, while, FM reception fades gradually. Thus, where a DAB and FM signal are transmitted from the same transmitter at an equivalent power, DAB will give solid reception in places where FM is a little hissy in stereo while, further out, FM will still give a listenable mono signal in places where DAB does not work at all. Because DAB broadcasts at about twice the frequency of FM, it does not diffract as well around local obstacles, such as hills and tall obstacles. Thus, DAB is more susceptible to local holes in reception. Furthermore, national radio is provided to most of the population on FM by a few high-power transmitters, while DAB only uses medium- and low-power transmitters in order to minimize co-channel interference. Thus, it takes many DAB transmitters to replicate the coverage of a high-power FM transmitter and these areas currently incorporate many DAB reception holes, each affecting a relatively small number of households and roads. As of 2018, indoor DAB coverage is 97.4% of the population for the BBC national multiplex, about 91% for Digital One, 90% for the local multiplexes and 77% for Sound Digital. Some DAB transmitters can be installed much more cheaply than others. The most expensive sites are those that require construction of a new mast. DAB transmitters at the same site usually share the same transmit antennas. Arqiva is also introducing an internet protocol (IP)-based distribution system which enables all DAB (and FM) transmissions from the same site to share the same audio link. In practice, the national multiplexes use satellite distribution, the costs of which are largely independent of the number of transmitters. Thus, the marginal cost of Opinion: The Future of DAB Radio in the UK Frequency Finder UK (www.frequencyfinder.org.uk) adding BBC DAB to a site that already carries local DAB (or Digital One) is relatively low. In practice, a new multiplex operator at a transmission site would be expected to contribute to the antenna and site operation costs, reducing the costs for the existing multiplex operators at that site. Thus, if another multiplex operator adds a transmitter at an existing BBC site, this should reduce the BBC’s operating costs, releasing funding for a new transmitter elsewhere. In practice, these efficiency savings are being used to fund low-power DAB transmitters at sites where a new transmitter for another multiplex is being commissioned in order to prevent adjacent channel interference (ACI). This occurs where a strong signal blocks reception of a much weaker signal on a neighbouring frequency. The problem is greatest for adjacent DAB channels, but can also affect reception of other channels. The closer a transmitter is to housing and major roads, the more of a problem ACI is. An ACI filler transmitter needs to be at least 1% of the power of the interfering transmitter. However, higher powers are typically being used, providing a coverage boost as well as protection against ACI. A switch from DAB to DAB+ during the 2020s would boost coverage of all multiplexes by providing solid reception in areas subject to ‘bubbling mud’ interference with classic DAB. The improved coding efficiency could also enable certain services to use a higher protection level to boost coverage further. A. BBC National Multiplex The BBC DAB network now comprises about 400 transmitters. If FM is to be replaced by DAB in the long term, the BBC must ensure that DAB coverage is available wherever FM transmitters are switched off. Matching FM coverage will require 800-900 DAB transmitters, possibly more (see the Article ‘Matching DAB Coverage to FM’). This raises the question of when and in what order these transmitters should be built, and how they should be funded. Due to funding pressures, the BBC is not proposing to commission further DAB transmitters after 2017. Instead, it has been agreed that the government will fund any DAB expansion needed to support digital switchover (DSO). The government wants the BBC to match DAB coverage to that of its FM networks prior to any FM switch-off. However, there is no timetable for this. The BBC FM transmitters will need replacing at various times and if more listeners to Radios 1 to 4 are using DAB than FM at that point, it would be better to replace many of these with DAB transmitters. It could be argued that some further expansion of the BBC DAB network should be funded by reductions in analogue radio transmission costs, starting with AM. Radio 4’s AM service (including long wave) is due to be decommissioned in 2020. Selected Radio Five Live AM transmitters that serve relatively few people could be closed while the power of the high-power AM transmitters, which consume a lot of electricity, could also be reduced, generating further savings. A few additional BBC local and regional AM transmitters could also be decommissioned or reduced in power. However, in most areas, closing BBC local and regional AM transmitters would require improvements to FM and/or DAB coverage so might not produce any net cost savings. In the second half of the 2020s, national FM coverage could be progressively reduced, initially by decommissioning low-power transmitters where there is good DAB reception. Additional local and national commercial multiplex transmitters at BBC sites will reduce also BBC transmission costs through sharing of site and antenna costs across more multiplexes. However, these savings will be offset by: • Increased maintenance costs for the remaining FM and AM transmitters as they age. • Increased costs of operating AM transmitters at sites where commercial services that used to share the costs have closed. • Replacement costs for those FM transmitters that the BBC wishes to retain in the long term. • Increased internet distribution costs as internet radio listening increases. Thus, there may not be much money left for DAB investment. If funding can be found for further BBC national DAB transmitters in the short-to-medium term, the following 165 sites should take priority: 1. Those sites with the highest incremental population coverage (50 sites, see Appendix A.1), enabling the maximum number of people to receive the full set of BBC national services for a given investment level. 2. Ensuring that the BBC multiplex is receivable at all locations where any other DAB service is available, i.e., a local multiplex, a small-scale multiplex or Digital One, currently requiring 63 new transmitters (of which 40 are in addition to those above) and power increases at a further 15 sites (see Appendix A.2); 3. Boosting DAB coverage in areas where FM reception is very poor (37 sites of which 46 do not appear above, see Appendix A.3); 4. Freeing up Radio 3 FM transmitters to improve coverage of BBC local radio in England (6 sites) and potentially to provide an additional regional service for Scotland on FM (21 Sites) 24 of these sites do not appear above (see Appendix A.4) Opinion: The Future of DAB Radio in the UK Frequency Finder UK (www.frequencyfinder.org.uk)

In the long term, beyond the mid 2020s, there are two options for the BBC. The first is to complete national DAB coverage and close the remaining FM transmitters by about 2030. The second option is to replace some of the FM transmitters, indefinitely serving a few areas on FM only, and many areas on both FM and DAB. Which option the BBC goes for will depend both on the relative cost and the proportions of listeners using FM, DAB and other digital platforms in the mid 2020s. Appendix A.5 lists the additional DAB transmitters needed to enable switch-off of low-power FM relays and other FM transmitters with low population coverage. Those sites that are not also listed in Appendix A.1 serve small populations so could be commissioned when the corresponding FM transmitters are life expired. The separate article ‘Matching DAB Coverage to FM’ lists the transmitters required to enable all FM transmitters to be switched off. B. Digital One National Multiplex Digital One is currently engaged in a modest expansion of its network. This comprises approximately 36 transmitters operating at similar powers to the corresponding BBC transmitters, which are being commissioned at a rate of around 5 per year. 18 of these remain (as of 2018) and are listed in Appendix B.1. Further developments are likely to focus on transmitters with relatively large population coverages; Appendix B.2 lists some possibilities. When Britain eventually completes the switch from DAB to DAB+, Digital One will be able to carry more stations as DAB+ is much more efficient. As well as reducing the transmission cost per station, it provides an opportunity to raise the charge per bit and use this money to increase the number of transmitters further. C. Sound Digital National Multiplex Sound Digital launched in February 2016 with 45 transmitters providing 77% indoor population coverage, which is poor for a ‘national’ service. The network aims to provide a lower-cost platform than Digital One, so cannot be expected to match its coverage. However, a credible national service should be aiming for indoor coverage of 85% or better. A further 19 transmitters were commissioned during autumn 2018. These extend coverage to most parts of the UK, including the remaining major cities, providing about 83% indoor coverage and about 90% outdoor coverage. A further 40 or so transmitters are likely to be economically feasible in the medium term, giving a network about half the size of the Digital One network. Appendix C.1 lists 28 sites that are estimated to serve 100,000 or more people. There are currently several cities and major towns where indoor coverage is poor and in-car coverage is subject to drop outs. These include Bradford, Edinburgh, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle. Coverage along motorways within the present outdoor coverage area could also be improved. Appendix C.2 lists 17 sites that could be used to improve coverage in cities and major towns and along motorways. Two further possibilities are listed in Appendix C.3; altogether, 40 sites are proposed. D. Local Multiplexes (Large Scale) The coverage of the local DAB multiplexes has been matched to the FM coverage of the first generation of local commercial stations (i.e., those that started between 1973 and 1992). This provides indoor local DAB coverage to about 90% of the population, which is still relatively poor. It does not match the FM coverage of BBC local and regional radio or of some of the smaller commercial stations. Furthermore, it does not match the coverage of many local AM transmitters. As AM radio is gradually being decommissioned, this is a problem. Plans for another 200 or so local DAB transmitters for some multiplexes (but not all) have already registered with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). A further ~200 transmitters were proposed in the 2011 Ofcom DAB coverage planning exercise. These are all listed in the article ‘Possible Future Local DAB Transmitters’. However, no funding for any of them has been agreed and many of the proposed transmitters serve too few people to be economically viable. In the medium term, it may be possible to secure agreement for a further fifty or so transmitters. Priority should go to transmitters serving at least 10,000 people that meet one (or more) of the following criteria: • Transmission sites that carry the Digital One multiplex, thus putting FM-only stations at a commercial disadvantage. This includes the new multiplexes licensed for South Cumbria/ North Lancashire and North Cumbria/ South West Scotland, and expansion of local DAB to West Norfolk, South Wiltshire, Ceredigion and the Scottish Borders; • Transmitters that fill gaps in the DAB coverage of commercial AM stations, enabling listeners to these services to switch to DAB; Opinion: The Future of DAB Radio in the UK Frequency Finder UK (www.frequencyfinder.org.uk)

• Transmitters that serve areas that currently rely on AM for BBC local or regional radio, potentially enabling the relevant AM transmitters to close (noting that, in most cases, the BBC could provide FM coverage instead of DAB); • Transmission sites serving areas with a Bauer, Communicorp or Global Radio service on FM. Appendix D lists these sites, 70 in total. In the long term, local multiplex coverage should be as high as can be affordably achieved, serving at least 95% of the population. The remaining areas that currently rely on AM for BBC local or regional radio should be a high priority if the BBC does not provide FM coverage instead. Many of these DAB transmitters could be funded by the savings in AM transmission costs that they would enable. Some of the efficiency savings from a switch to DAB+ should also be invested in improving coverage. However, DAB+ will only increase the multiplex operators’ income in areas where the local multiple is full. A switch to DAB+ could also enable BBC local and regional radio to use a higher protection level, achieving better coverage. Ideally, everywhere that is served by the BBC national multiplex should also be served by a local multiplex, a similar philosophy to the public service broadcasting terrestrial TV multiplexes. In practice a population coverage threshold might have to be applied. In some cases, local coverage could be provided by a small-scale multiplex instead of a county multiplex. Under this model, some of any future investment in local DAB coverage by the BBC and government should be allocated to small-scale multiplexes in areas not served by the county multiplexes. Again, potential sites are listed in Appendix D. In the long term, the BBC is expected to provide the same level of DAB coverage for Radios Cymru, Scotland, Ulster and Wales as for Radios 1 to 4, matching FM coverage. However, this level of coverage may not be economic for the commercial radio services that use most of the capacity on the local DAB multiplexes. The BBC could fully fund the additional transmitters required or set up new regional multiplexes for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Regional multiplexes would have the advantage of providing additional capacity for new BBC regional services and/or regional versions of some of the national services. The BBC regional multiplexes could be in addition to the BBC national multiplex or replace it. In the latter case, some BBC national services would be carried on the new regional multiplexes while others would replace the BBC regional services on the local multiplexes, reducing coverage. Alternatively, the regional multiplexes could accommodate all BBC services by using DAB+ for the regional services and the less popular national services; the regional services would then remain on local multiplexes using the original DAB format. Another option would be to maintain current coverage of the BBC national multiplex in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and expand the new regional multiplexes to match FM coverage. Versions of Radios 1 to 4 would then be carried on both national and regional multiplexes. Finally, if the regional multiplexes are delayed until all DAB services have switched to DAB+, there will be sufficient space to accommodate all national and regional services on the same multiplex. Channel 11C could be used for the regional multiplex in Wales with a new channel allocated for the Isle of Man multiplex (maybe 10B) and possibly the South East Devon multiplex (maybe 12A, with Plymouth moving to 10D). Channels 10B, 10C, 10D and 12C are all possibilities for Scotland, whilst there are lots of options available for Northern Ireland. The London area is currently served by three local DAB multiplexes, which are all full (as of April 2018). All three multiplexes have similar coverage, extending way beyond London and providing good coverage of towns such as Luton, Maidstone, Reigate and Guildford, while other towns at a similar distance receive much poorer coverage. Those stations wishing to serve the London commuter belt thus have patchy coverage, while those wishing to serve London only have to pay for more coverage than they want. It is therefore proposed here that the service areas of the London multiplexes be changed to provide broadcasters with a choice. Coverage of Multiplex 1 and/or 2 should be expanded to serve Chelmsford, Southend, Tunbridge Wells, Reading, South Buckinghamshire and the rest of Hertfordshire, providing better coverage for broadcasters wishing to serve the London commuter belt. A multiplex that only provides coverage within the M25, offering lower transmission costs, should also be provided, either by reducing coverage of Multiplex 3 or in the form of a new 4th London- wide multiplex, potentially using Channel 10B. Outside London, new larger scale multiplexes for Greater Manchester (using Channel 11C) and the Birmingham area (using Channel 10D) are potentially viable if the BBC does not launch a regional multiplex for Wales within the existing DAB spectrum. Elsewhere, it is not clear whether there is sufficient demand to support both small- scale multiplexes and additional larger-sale multiplexes. Thus, some flexibility in frequency planning is needed until the demand is clear. In the longer term, it may be necessary to allocate further spectrum to DAB in the UK to ensure that demand for national, large-scale local and small-scale DAB/DAB+ capacity can continue to be met. For higher power services, Channels 5A to 7B would be easiest to coordinate with neighbouring countries, Opinion: The Future of DAB Radio in the UK Frequency Finder UK (www.frequencyfinder.org.uk) but would need to be cleared of non-broadcast users. Thus, decisions need to be taken now on whether to allocate additional spectrum to DAB in the mid 2020s to enable it to be cleared ready for use.

4. Sound Quality In Britain, most DAB stations sound similar to FM on a mono radio. However, in stereo, FM tends to sound better, provided the reception is good (i.e. no background noise or multipath interference). DAB sounds flat by comparison. Furthermore, the majority of DAB stations, including many music stations, broadcast in mono. Stereo broadcasting on DAB is reserved for the most popular stations, including most of those that are also available on FM, although Radio 4 sometimes broadcasts in mono when 5 Live Sports Extra is on air. Radio 3 uses a much higher bit rate than other stations, giving much better sound quality. However, some listeners still prefer FM. It is not reasonable to expect radio listeners to accept a drop in audio quality as part of radio DSO. Some stations offer higher audio quality via TV platforms and/or the internet. However, this is not acceptable compensation for a drop in mobile audio quality. Improving the audio quality of classic DAB requires an increase in bit rate. This increases the transmission cost per service and requires more radio spectrum to maintain the same number of services. Switching to DAB+ provides a means to improve the audio quality without increasing bit rate. In fact, DAB+ can provide higher quality at lower bit rates.

5. Moving from DAB to DAB+ Clearly, improving sound quality and programme choice and making digital radio more accessible for broadcasters requires a move from original DAB to DAB+ format. This will also help to improve coverage, both directly and by making it more economical to invest in additional transmitters. The limiting factor at the moment is receiver compatibility. Most car DAB radios can also receive DAB+ signals. However, older portable DAB radios and some new models cannot receive DAB+. On these radios, DAB+ stations appear to be silent, which is not good for the reputation of the DAB platform. Listeners need to be educated about the difference between DAB and DAB+ and the need to eventually replace or upgrade old radios. The first permanent DAB+ services in the UK began in 2016 on the Portsmouth trial small-scale multiplex, quickly followed by four services (now eight) on the Sound Digital national multiplex. By 2018, use of DAB+ had become widespread on the small-scale multiplexes, with Brighton and Manchester becoming DAB+ only. As DAB+ is approximately twice as efficient as original DAB in mono and at least three times as inefficient in stereo, it becomes attractive to commercial broadcasters once half of all DAB receivers are DAB+-compatible. This point was reached in 2019 when DAB+ was adopted on the Digital One multiplex for new services and some of the existing services. By the end of the year, more stations on the multiplex were using the DAB+ format than original DAB format. Commercial broadcasters have to make a business decision as to whether a new DAB+ service would attract more listeners than an existing service would lose by switching format from original DAB to DAB+. Initially, DAB+ is likely to be more attractive for services aimed at minorities and for specialist music services as their audiences are more likely to buy a DAB+-compatible radio (or other suitable device) in order to listen. In general, more mainstream services are likely switch to DAB+ later. The BBC has an obligation to ensure that its services are as widely available as practically possible, so its services are likely to be amongst the last to switch to DAB+. A stereo DAB+ service could be broadcast in parallel with a mono classic DAB service for a transition period (as happened in Switzerland). A switchover to DAB+ is unlikely to be complete before the mid 2020s. However, this needs to be done before any large-scale decommissioning of FM transmitters to avoid listeners having to upgrade their radios twice. To speed the adoption of DAB+, the broadcasters, Ofcom and government need to pressure receiver manufacturers into making all of their digital radio products compatible with DAB+ as soon as possible. Ideally, incompatible receivers should be banned from sale. Listeners also need to be made aware of the difference between DAB and DAB+ as most are currently not.

6. Small-scale DAB Ofcom plans to licence permanent small-scale DAB multiplexes over the next few years. Consequently, decisions need to be made over the next year or so concerning coverage areas, multiplex capacity and protection levels, frequency allocation and order of advertisement. Opinion: The Future of DAB Radio in the UK Frequency Finder UK (www.frequencyfinder.org.uk)

Small-scale DAB coverage should be planned to enable as many people as possible to eventually receive a service. Therefore gaps between adjacent coverage areas should be avoided, where possible, and multiplex operators required to serve as much of their potential coverage areas as is practical. Coverage radii of about 10 km, matching current small-scale FM stations where they exist, are currently proposed. Thus each major city would have its own multiplex while smaller towns and cities would share. Thus, there is a need to carefully plan the multiplex areas to ensure that each town is allocated to a particular multiplex area and that sufficient radio spectrum is available to support this. For small-scale DAB multiplexes in areas not served by the county-level multiplexes, it must be decided whether the county multiplex will eventually be extended or whether the area will only be served by a small-scale multiplex on a long-term basis. In the latter case, provisions should be made to carry the relevant BBC local or regional radio service on the multiplex and to include that multiplex in any future plans for publicly funded DAB coverage expansion. In some parts of the country, there may be insufficient demand from broadcasters to fill both county and small- scale multiplexes. Introducing small-scale multiplexes here could damage the viability of the county multiplexes and reduce choice for listeners who can only receive a county multiplex. In these areas, Ofcom should consider providing small-scale DAB coverage by subdividing the county multiplex instead of licensing separate small- scale multiplexes. In some counties, the two approaches could be mixed. Ofcom had originally proposed using protection level (PL) 1 for small-scale DAB in contrast to PL3, which is used for the national and county-level multiplexes. This reduces interference, enabling a given frequency to be used at more locations, but also reduces multiplex capacity by a third compared to PL3. However, the small-scale DAB trials all use PL3, contributing to poor reception in many places (also caused by poor selection of transmission sites). Poor coverage should not be tolerated for the permanent small-scale multiplexes – radio spectrum is a scarce public resource that should be deployed as efficiently as possible to maximise public benefit. In areas where demand for small-scale DAB is low, Ofcom should mandate PL1 to enable better coverage at low power. In areas where demand is high, Ofcom should permit small-scale multiplexes to broadcast at a sufficiently high power to provide good coverage at PL3. PL3 should also be used for most of the small-scale multiplexes in areas not served by a county multiplex. In all cases, prospective multiplex operators should be required to demonstrate that their coverage will be sufficient before being licensed. Ofcom was originally proposing to accommodate small-scale DAB within the spectrum allocated to the existing local multiplexes, channels 10B to 12D. However, it has now been persuaded to allocate new spectrum using channels 7D, 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B and 9C. This will enable a much greater number of small-scale multiplexes to be accommodated and minimize adjacent channel interference. Note that although DAB radios can tune between channels 5A and 13F, the remaining channels are currently allocated to non-broadcast users in the UK. Some small-scale multiplexes might still be accommodated within channels 10B to 12D. However, transmission sites would have to be carefully selected to avoid interference to (and from) other multiplexes. This is not limited to multiplexes on immediately adjacent channels. The most effective solution is to use the same transmission sites as the other multiplexes. However, this can increase costs. Channel 10B offers a bit more flexibility as it is furthest away from the channels allocated to the national multiplexes, so could potentially be used without causing interference in areas where the local county multiplex is on channel 11B or higher. However, incoming interference would occur near transmission sites used by both Sound Digital and Digital One or by both the BBC multiplex and a local multiplex on channel 11B. Similar problems would occur if some of the new spectrum were to be allocated to large-scale multiplexes. For example, some county-level multiplexes could be moved to reduce frequency congestion (an issue in the Midlands). To minimize adjacent channel interference, only channels 7D and 9C should be considered for this. If small-scale DAB is to be available everywhere, further spectrum is likely to be needed, particularly if there is demand for more than one multiplex in some locations. However, it will take many years to fully develop small- scale DAB. There is clearly immediate demand in the major cities and some other areas. However, DAB uptake will need to grow before small-scale DAB will become viable in less populated areas. There is also a limit to the speed at which Ofcom can process licence applications. Thus, additional spectrum is unlikely to be needed until the mid-to-late 2020s.

Opinion: The Future of DAB Radio in the UK Frequency Finder UK (www.frequencyfinder.org.uk)

Appendix A: Further Development of the BBC National DAB Network

1. Transmitters with the Highest Incremental Population Coverage The following transmitters are estimated *Bishops Stortford (Herts) Kilkeel (Northern Ireland) to serve at least 15,000 people or 7,000 Blaenavon (South East Wales) *Kinross (Fife) people if they already carry a local Brusselton (County Durham) Lethanhill (Ayrshire) multiplex and/or are in Scotland, Wales Braunton (North Devon) Linford Wood (Milton Keynes) or Northern Ireland (where DAB Burgate Manor Fm (Fordingbridge, Hants) *Little Oxenden (Market Harborough) coverage is poorer than England) Chalford (Gloucestershire) Malmesbury (Wiltshire) Asterisked transmitters were included in Cheadle (Staffordshire) Mildenhall (NW Suffolk) the BBC’s original Phase 4 DAB plan, Cheveley (SE Cambs) Odiham (NE Hampshire) published in 2011, but were not imple- *Clarborough/Grove (Retford) Over Norton (Oxfordshire) mented as part of the 2014-17 expansion Coleford (Gloucestershire) *Peterlee (County Durham) *Coxbank Farm (Uttoxeter) Pontillanfriath (S Wales) *Alderbourne Farm (SE Bucks, NE Berks) Dundry East (Bristol) Rostrevor Forest (Warrenpoint, N Ireland) Andoversford (Gloucestershire) *Ely (Cambridgeshire) Rugby (Warwickshire) Bakers Wood (Essex) Egford Hill (Somerset) Seaham (County Durham) Banff (NW Aberdeenshire) Ferndale (South Wales) Washford (Somerset) Bardon Hill (Leicestershire) Gainsborough (Lincolnshire) Woodcote (Oxfordshire) Barwell Water Tower (Hinckley) Garrowby Hill (East Yorkshire) Worksop (Notts) Barton Farm (Sherbourne, Dorset) Gwaenysgor (NE Wales) Beacon Hill (Wiltshire) Holbeach (Lincs) Plus full power for: Beech Hill (Northwich, Cheshire) Horseway Allpress Farm (Cambs) *Sedgley Beacon (W Mids) *Benfleet (Essex/Kent) Ibthorpe (Andover, Hants) Biggar (South Lanarkshire) Ilfracombe (North Devon)

2. Matching Local Multiplex Coverage The following transmitters are needed to Etchinghill (South East Kent) Staines (North Surrey) eliminate ACI from established local Garrowby Hill (East Yorks) – also on list 1 The Trundle (SW Sussex) multiplex transmitters: Gwaenysgor (NE Wales) – also on list 1 Towcester Potcote Farm (Northants) Arkley (North London) Hereford (Herefordshire) West Kilbride (Ayrshire) Benfleet (SE Essex, N Kent) – also on list 1 Hickling Stubb Road (Norfolk) Westgate Hill (Bradford) Mount Vernon (NW London) Hitchingbrooke (Huntingdon, Cambs) Westwood (Wiltshire) St Hilary (South Wales) Holbeach (Lincs) – also on list 1 Woodcote (Oxfordshire) – also on list 1 Sutton Common (Cheshire) Hope Mountain (NE Wales) Woolmoor or Ashbourne House (N Yorks) Horseway Allpress Farm (Cambs) – + list 1 The following transmitters are needed to Houghton on the Hill (Leicestershire) Power increases for the following match local multiplex coverage: Hull Clough Road (Hull) transmitters are needed to match local Hunterstone (West Yorkshire) multiplex coverage: Bakers Wood (Essex) – also on list 1 Ibthorpe (Andover, Hants) – also on list 1 Bardon Hill (Leicestershire) – also on list 1 Caister Pump Lane (East Norfolk) Ilfracombe (North Devon) – also on list 1 Cathcart (South Glasgow) Barnstaple (North Devon) Lichfield (SE Staffordshire) Barwell Water Tower (Hinckley) –also list 1 Cale Cross House (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) Maitland House (Southend, Essex) Clacton East (Essex) Bevan Flats (Grimsby) – also on list 1 Malmesbury (Wiltshire) – also on list 1 Bristol Kings Weston (West Bristol) Edinburgh Castle Marlborough (Wiltshire) Freeth Allotments (Hampshire) Brusselton (County Durham) – also list 1 Meriden (West Midlands) Braunton (North Devon) – also on list 1 Glasgow West Central Metropolitan House (Birmingham) Headless Cross (Redditch) Cheveley (SE Cambs) – also on list 1 Milbury Heath (South Gloucestershire) Cirencester (Gloucs) Irthlingborough Road (Northants) Morley (West Yorkshire) Kenton (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) Clarborough (Retford) – also on list 1 Newbury (Berkshire) Colchester Depot (Essex) Kidderminster (Worcestershire) Norwich Central Sedgley Beacon (W Mids) – also on list 1 Constantine Farm (County Durham) Odiham (Hampshire, D1 site) – also list 1 Croydon (London, low power) Shepshed Nook (Leicestershire) Over Norton (Oxfordshire) – also on list 1 Shaftersbury House (Doncaster) Dundry East (Bristol) – also on list 1 Patrington (East Yorkshire) Durham St Marks (Tunbridge Wells, Kent) Pontillanfriath (S Wales) – also on list 1 Ecton Hall Estate (Northants) Purin Hill (Fife) Ely (Cambridgeshire) – also on list 1 Richmond Hill (London) Egford Hill (Somerset) – also on list 1 Shotleyfield (County Durham)

3. Areas with Very Poor FM Reception A74 Moffat to Elvanfoot (Scotland) Coniston High Man (Cumbria) Glenelly Valley (N Tyrone, N Ireland) Arrochar (Argyll) Craigellachie (Moray) Lairg (Scottish Highlands) Balblair Wood (Scottish Highlands) Crianlarich (Stirlingshire) Llanfyllin (Powys – R3 only) Balintuinn (Aberdeenshire) Croeserw (S Wales – R3 only) Llangurig (Powys – R3 only) Ballochbuie Forest (Aberdeenshire) Crubenmore (Scottish Highlands) Llanrhaedr (NE Wales – R3 only) Belcoo (W Fermanagh, Northern Ireland) Cushendall (NE Antrim, Northern Ireland) Llanwrtyd Wells (Powys – R3 only) Bellair (East Antrim, Northern Ireland) Durness (Scottish Highlands) Llwyn-Onn (W Wales – R3 only) Ben Tongue (Scottish Highlands) Ferndale (S Wales – R3 only) – also list 1 Llyswen (Powys – R3 only) Blair Atholl (Perthshire) Ffestiniog (NW Wales – R3 only) Presteigne (Powys) Braemar (Aberdeenshire) Garth Hill (Knighton, Powys) Ravenscar (North Yorkshire) Builth Wells (Powys – R3 only) Glenariff (NE Antrim, Northern Ireland) Rhayader (Powys – R3 only) Opinion: The Future of DAB Radio Frequency Finder (www.frequencyfinder.org.uk)

Sedbergh (Cumbria) The Cairnwell (Aberdeenshire) Sennybridge (Powys) Tomintoul (Moray)

4. Enabling Re-allocation of Selected Radio 3 FM Transmitters For an additional BBC Regional Service Lethanhill (Ayrshire) – also on list 1 Wick (Scottish Highlands) for Scotland: Lybster (Scottish Highlands) Ardgour (Scottish Highlands) Mallaig (Scottish Highlands) For BBC Local Radio in England: Ballachulish (Scottish Highlands) Ness of Lewis (Isle of Lewis) Penifiler (Isle of Skye) Chalford (Gloucs) – also on list 1 Bowmore (Islay) Colchester Depot (Essex) Cliff Hill (Loch Ewe, Scottish Highlands) Polbain (Scottish Highlands) Rosemount (Perthshire) Combe Martin (North Devon) Daliburgh (South Uist) Minehead (Somerset) Duncraig (Scottish Highlands) Strachur (Argyll) Thurso (Scottish Highlands) Nailsworth (Gloucestershire) Fort Augustus (Scottish Highlands) Wensleydale (North Yorkshire) Inverbevie (Aberdeenshire) Ullapool (Scottish Highlands) Kinlochleven (Scottish Highlands) West Kilbride (Ayrshire) – also on list 2

5. Enabling Closure of Low-Power and Low-Coverage FM Transmitters Some of the following transmitters also Calne (Wiltshire) Esk Valley (North Yorkshire) appear on lists 1 to 4 Combe Martin (North Devon) Ffestiniog (North Wales) Enables category 4 FM transmitters to be Egford Hill (Somerset) Fort Augustus (Scottish Highlands) switched off: Inverbevie (Aberdeenshire) Glengorm (Isle of Mull) Linford Wood (Milton Keynes) Hope Mountain (NE Wales) Beary Peark (Isle of Man) Llanrhaeadr (Powys) Isles of Scilly Bexhill (Sussex) Llyswen (Powys) Kilkeel (Northern Ireland) Blaenavon (South Wales) Marlborough (Wiltshire) Kinlochleven (Scottish Highlands) Chalford (Gloucestershire) Nailsworth (Gloucestershire) Lethanhill (Ayrshire) Chudleigh (Devon) Ness of Lewis (Isle of Lewis) Llanwrtyd Wells (Powys) Cirencester (Gloucs) Newbury (Berkshire) Llangurig (Powys) Colchester Depot (Essex) Penifiler (Isle of Skye) Llanfyllin (Powys) Croeserw (South Wales) Rosemount (Perthshire) Lybster (Scottish Highlands) Ferndale (South Wales) Shere-Gomshall area (Surrey) Mallaig (Scottish Highlands) Llangeinor or Pont-y-Cymer (S Wales) West Kilbride (Ayrshire) Polbain (Scottish Highlands) Llwyn-Onn (West Wales) Rhayader (Powys) Minehead (Somerset) Enables category 2 FM transmitters to be Rostrevor Forest (Northern Ireland) Porth (South Wales) switched off: Strachur (Argyll) Richmond (North Yorkshire) Thurso (Scottish Highlands) Westwood (Wiltshire) Ballachulish (Scottish Highlands) Bowmore (Islay) Ullapool (Scottish Highlands) Woolmoor (North Yorkshire) Wensleydale (North Yorkshire) Builth Wells (Powys) Cliff Hill (Loch Ewe, Scottish Highlands) Wick (Scottish Highlands) Enables category 3 FM transmitters to be Wooler (Northumberland) switched off: Corwen (NE Wales) Daliburgh (South Uist) Ardgour (Scottish Highlands) Duncraig (Scottish Highlands) See the article ‘Opinion: The Future of FM Barnstaple (North Devon Radio’ for the FM transmitter categories

Appendix B: Further Development of the Digital One Network 1. Planned Additions Abington (South Lanarkshire) Greenhill (West Wales) Mow Cop (South East Cheshire) Burton Down (West Sussex) Haslingden (Lancashire) Rhondda A (South Wales) Clifton (Donacaster) Heolgerrig (South Wales) St Austell (Cornwall) Conwy (North Wales) Knott Hall (Cumbria) St Hilary (South Wales) Creteway Down (Folkestone, Kent) Membury (Berkshire) Tay Bridge (Tayside) Eston Nab (Teeside) Mormond Hill (Aberdeenshire) Truro (Cornwall)

2. Potential Further Additions The following additional transmitters Geddington (East Northamptonshire) Northamption serve 50,000 or more people and transmit Grantham (Lincolnshire) Poole (Dorset) the BBC National multiplex: Harrogate Hildebrand (North Yorkshire) Pye Green (SW Staffordshire) Armagh (Northern Ireland) Hartshill Quarry (Nuneaton, Warwickshire) Quarndon (Derby) Acklam Wold (North Yorkshire) Hutton (Weston-Super-Mare) Rhosfach Farm (Oswestry, Shropshire) Boars Hill (Oxford) Knockmore (North East Scotland) Shaftesbury (Dorset) Chatton (Northumberland) Little Prestwood Farm (Crawley, Sussex) Stockend Wood (Stroud, Gloucestershire) Daffy Green (Dereham, Norfolk) Morpeth (Northumberland) Farthinghoe (Banbury, Oxfordshire) Mynydd Machen (South East Wales)

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Appendix C: Further Development of the Sound Digital Network 1. Transmitters Estimated to Serve 100,000 or more people Bath Keighley (West Yorkshire) Mounteagle (Inverness) Chepping Wycombe (High Wycombe) Kirkton Mailer (Perth) Olivers Mount (Scarborough) Chesterfield (Derbyshire) Lark Stoke (Warwickshire/ Worcestershire) Oulton (Suffolk) Eastbourne (East Sussex) Llanddona or Arfon (North Wales) Pendle Forest (East Lancashire) Epping Green (A1M and Hertfordshire) Londonderry (Northern Ireland) Rosneath (Clydeside) Fenham (Newcastle) Madingley (Cambridge) Sandale (North Cumbria) Heathfield (East Sussex) Mansfield Fishponds Hill (M1) Sunley Building (Manchester) Holcombe Down (South Devon) Massingham East (Norfolk) Warren Heath (Ipswich) Holme Moss (Yorks/ Gt Manchester) Midhurst (West Sussex) Huntshaw Cross (North Devon) Morecambe Bay (S Cumbria/ N Lancs)

2. Improving Coverage in Cities, Major Towns and along Motorways Bromsgrove (M5) Fenham (Newcastle) also list 1 Mansfield Fishponds Hill (M1) also list 1 Beecroft Hill (Leeds) Hemdean (Reading and M4) St John’s Beacon (Liverpool) Braid Hills (Edinburgh) Holme Moss (M62) also list 1 Stockland Hill (A30 and M5) Chepping Wycombe (M40) also list 1 Idle (Bradford) Sunley Building (Manchester) also list 1 Christchurch (M4 and Newport) Copt Oak/ Leicester Cardinal (Leicester) Warren Heath (Ipswich) also list 1 Crabwood Farm (M3 and Winchester) Madingley (Cambridge) also list 1 3. Further Possibilities Great Yarmouth (Norfolk) Salisbury (Wiltshire)

Appendix D: Further Development of Local (County) DAB 1. Transmitters Carrying the Digital One and BBC National Multiplexes Launching 2021: Whitehaven (N Cumbria) Salisbury (Wiltshire) Kendal (S Cumbria/ N Lancs) Workington (N Cumbria) Selkirk (Scottish Borders or Edinburgh) Lancaster (S Cumbria/ N Lancs) Others: Whitby (North Yorks or Teeside multiplex)

Morecambe Bay (S Cumbria/ N Lancs) Blaenplwyf (West Wales) Penrith (N Cumbria) ACI fillers are excluded. All transmitters Haverfordwest (West Wales) serve more than 10,000 people Sandale (N Cumbria) Massingham East (Norfolk)

2. Transmitters Serving Areas that Currently Rely on AM for both Commercial and BBC Local Services Asterisked transmitters carry the BBC More than 10,000 people served: Fewer than 10,000 people served: National multiplex. *Ashbourne (Derbyshire) Grange Farm (Derbyshire) Chalford (Gloucestershire) Nailsworth (Gloucestershire) Cinderford (Gloucestershire)

3. Transmitters Serving Areas that Currently Rely on AM for Local Commercial Services only Asterisked transmitters carry the BBC *Haslingden (Greater Manchester mux) Fewer than 10,000 people served: National multiplex. Haverhill (Suffolk) Banff (Inverness) More than 10,000 people served: *Leek (Stoke-on-Trent) Fraserburgh (Inverness) Mildenhall (Suffolk) Alsa Wood (Essex) Lethanhill (Ayr) *Rumster Forest (Inverness) Whitehead (Northern Ireland) Andoversford (Gloucestershire) *Stocksbridge (South Yorkshire) Cheadle (Stoke-on-Trent) *Whitworth (Greater Manchester mux) *Tay Bridge (Tayside) *Winchcombe (Gloucestershire) Coxbank Farm (Uttoxeter, Stoke) *Varteg Hill (Swansea) *Foel Fynddau (Swansea) *Woodbridge (Suffolk)

4. Transmitters Serving Areas that Currently Rely on AM for BBC Local or Regional Radio only Asterisked transmitters carry the BBC Fewer than 10,000 people served: Glyncorrwg (SE Wales or Swansea) National multiplex. A74 Moffat to Elvanfoot (Scotland) Gosforth (S Cumbria/ N Lancs) More than 10,000 people served: Abergwynfi (Swansea) Grasmere (S Cumbria/ N Lancs) Alston (N Cumbria) Kirkby Stephen (N Cumbria) *Burnham (Norfolk) Knighton (Wales) *Downham Market (Norfolk) Arrochar (Glasgow) Balblair Wood (Inverness) Lairg (Inverness) *Dursley (Gloucestershire) Lorton (N Cumbria) Coleford (Gloucestershire) Ben Tongue (Inverness) Coniston High Man (S Cumbria/ N Lancs) Maesteg (SE Wales or Swansea) *Heacham Bottom Farm (Norfolk) Presteigne (Wales) *Monmouth (South East Wales) Crianlarich (Glasgow) Durness (Inverness) Sennybridge (Wales) Washford (Somerset) Tomintoul (Inverness)

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5. Areas with Bauer, Communicorp or Global Services on FM Asterisked transmitters carry the BBC Cookstown (Northern Ireland) *Stranraer (SW Scotland) National multiplex. Square brackets *Crumhaugh Hill (Borders/Edinburgh) *Stocksbridge (South Yorkshire) [3] indicate the transmitter is also on a *Downham Market (Norfolk) [4] *Swaffham (Norfolk) preceding list. *Dumfries South (SW Scotland) *Tay Bridge (Tayside) [3] More than 10,000 people served: *East Grinstead (Sussex) Warrington (Manchester or Liverpool) *Eyemouth (Borders or Edinburgh) Washford (Somerset) [4] Launching Autumn 2020: *Grantown (Inverness) *Wells-next-the-sea (Norfolk) *Keswick (N Cumbria) *Haverfordwest (West Wales) [1] *West Lynn (Norfolk) *Kendal (S Cumbria/ N Lancs) [1] Haverhill (Suffolk) [3] *Whitby (North Yorks or Teeside) [1] *Lancaster (S Cumbria/ N Lancs) [1] *Kings Lynn (Norfolk) Worksop (South Yorkshire) *Morecambe Bay (SCumbria/NLancs) [1] *Larne (Northern Ireland) *Penrith (N Cumbria) [1] Little Oxenden (Leicestershire) Fewer than 10,000 people served: *Sandale (N Cumbria) [1] Linford Wood (Herts, Beds and Bucks) *Whitehaven (N Cumbria) [1] *Balgownie (Aberdeen) *Llandinam (Powys, multiplex TBD) Banff (Inverness) [3] *Windermere (Cumbria) *Long Mountain (Powys, multiplex TBD) *Workington (N Cumbria) [1] *Barrow Town Hall (S Cumbria/ N Lancs) *Maddybenny Moor (Northern Ireland) Crompton Moor (Greater Manchester) *Massingham East (Norfolk) [1] Others: *Enniskillen (Northern Ireland) *Peebles (Borders or Edinburgh) *Fakenham (Norfolk) *Alton (Surrey multiplex) Petersfield (South Hampshire) *Ardovie Quarry (Tayside) Fraserburgh (Inverness) [3] Rugby (Coventry) *Jedbergh (Borders or Edinburgh) *Barskeoch Hill (SW Scotland) *Rumster Forest (Inverness) [3] *Blaenplwyf (Ceredigion) [1] *Heyshaw (North Yorkshire) *Salisbury (Wiltshire) [1] *Llanelli (Swansea) *Bridport (SE Devon or Bournemouth) *Sandale (SW Scotland) [1] *Boston Wyberton (Lincolnshire) Newmarket (Cambridge) *Selkirk (Scottish Borders or Edinburgh) [1] *St Erth (Cornwall) *Burnham (Norfolk) [4] *Scunthorpe (Lincolnshire) *Cambret Hill (SW Scotland) Thurso (Inverness) *Skegness Candlesby (Lincolnshire) *Woodbridge (Suffolk) [3] *Chard (Somerset) *Skipton UHF (North Yorkshire)

6. Other Transmitters Serving 25,000 or more people Asterisked transmitters carry the BBC Beacon Hill (Wiltshire) *Ladder Hill (Greater Manchester mux) National multiplex. Excludes transmitters Bishops Stortford (Herts, Beds, Bucks) Midsomer Norton (Bristol) that appear in the preceding lists. *Buxton (Derbyshire) *Titterstone Clee Hill (Hereford & Worcs) *Aldeburgh (Suffolk) *Chatton (Tyne and Wear mux) *Wharfedale (Bradford etc multiplex) Alderbourne Farm (Herts, Beds, Bucks) Egford Hill (Somerset) Whitchurch (Wolves and Shropshire) *Glossop (Greater Manchester multiplex)

7. Further Transmitters Carrying the BBC National Multiplex Excludes transmitters that appear in the Todmorden (Bradford etc multiplex) High Wycombe (Herts, Beds and Bucks) preceding lists. Tully Quarry (Northern Ireland) Holywell Brynford Hill (NE Wales) More than 10,000 people served: Whalley (Lancashire) Innerleithen (Borders or Edinburgh) Wickhambrook (Suffolk) Kingussie (Inverness) Ardovie Quarry (Tayside) Kirkconnel (SW Scotland) Ben Gullipen (Tayside) Fewer than 10,000 people served: Knott Hall (either Cumbria) Birch Vale (Greater Manchester mux) Langholm (SW Scotland) Brandon (Suffolk) Bala (NE Wales) Ballycastle (Northern Ireland) Llandyfriog (West Wales) Brecon (West Wales) Llanidloes (Powys, multiplex TBD) Calver Peak (Derbyshire) Bampton (South East Devon) Beccles (Suffolk) Llagollen Pennant Farm (NE Wales) Chesham (Herts, Beds and Bucks) Machynlleth (Powys, multiplex TBD) Crieff (Dundee and Perth) Beer (South East Devon) Betws-y-Coed (N Wales) Moffat (SW Scotland) Dolgellau (NW Wales) Rheola (Swansea) Gartly Moor (Aberdeen) Biggar (SW Scotland) Bungay (Suffolk) Slapton (Plymouth or SE Devon) Llandecwyn (NW Wales) Tenby (West Wales) Llandrindod Wells (Powys, multiplex TBD) Clun (Wolverhampton and Shropshire) Clyro (Powys, multiplex TBD) Thornhill (SW Scotland) Ludlow (Wolverhampton and Shropshire) Tullich (Aberdeen) Lyme Regis (SE Devon or Bournemouth) Deiniolen (NW Wales) Mynydd Pencarreg (West Wales) Drumcarrow Craig (Dundee and Perth) Ogmore Vale (Swansea) Haydon Bridge (Tyne and Wear mux) Hebden Bridge (Bradford etc multiplex)

Paul Groves. August 2015. Last Updated: April 2021. Frequency Finder (www.frequencyfinder.org.uk)