Music / Bristol digital radio
Bristol radios go digital
Three community radio stations in the greater Bristol area have been broadcast digitally for the first time.
The move has been hailed as a “landmark moment” for community radio, making it easier for more local people to find and listen to their community radio stations.
Ujima Radio, BCFm and Bradley Stoke Radio, three established radio stations, have collaborated to create Bristol and Severnside Digital radio.
is needed now More than ever
Also going digital are Somer Valley Radio in Midsomer Norton, KTCR in Keynsham, Base Radio in Filwood and Hub Radio, the student radio station of UWE Bristol.
Two local radio stations based in Stokes Croft will also start to broadcast digitally; Noods Radio, with independent radio streaming from around the world, and Decadance, playing dance and urban music with a strong support for local Bristol artists.
Bristol and Severnside Digital Radio is also hoping to acquire more radio stations later down the line, including Angel Vintage, Fun Kids Naps, Radio Maria England, Tomorrowland, and Gaydio, who will all join in January 2023.
The company was successful in gaining licensing by Ofcom as part of its Small Scale DAB licensing programme, working with each station to create a digital radio network which covers over 530,000 people in the area.
The surplus generated from operating the network will also provide a new source of funding for community-based media.
CEO of BCfm Radio, Patrick Hart said the transition is “a really important milestone” for independent media.
All of the stations will now have wider coverage than they did on FM previously, a significant step to harnessing Bristol listeners, 70 per cent of which listen to DAB Digital Radio.
The rise in popularity of DAB digital radio is also combined with a continuing decline in FM radio listening, making the move to digital more important than ever for local and community radio stations.
The radio stations will also be listed on digital radios alongside other national and regional radio stations.
Chair of Ujima Radio, Kevin Philemon, said: “This is a perfect example of excellent collective work between community radio stations in Bristol.
“It’s a landmark that will be treasured by the city and generations to come.”
Bristol and Severnside Digital Radio are the first in a series of areas in the west of England that will follow a similar path in migrating community radio to digital.
In the next 18 months, stations in Bath and North East Somerset, Taunton, Swindon and Marlborough, West Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire will also go digital as part of Ofcom’s Small Scale DAB licensing programme.
Main photo: Bristol and Severnside Digital Radio
Read next:
- Get to know: Kafka Radio
- Bristol radio station announced closure amid rising costs
- Noods radio goes digital
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