TOWER DAB TO BID FOR COATBRIDGE & CUMBERNAULD LICENCE IN JULY 24
Tower DAB is bidding for the newly advertised DAB Multiplex licence for Cumbernauld & Coatbridge in Scotland. OFCOM require applications for this licence covering 300,000 people to be lodged by mid July 2024.
If you are a radio station wanting to be part of this application and therefore eligible for 'Partner Bid' rates please get in touch with us at
LATEST NEWS
TOWER DAB win new SSDAB licences from OFCOM. 18/7/24
Tower DAB and our parent company C.I. Broadcasting Ltd are pleased to confirm that the regulator OFCOM have awarded two new SSDAB multiplex operators licences to us to broadcast a DAB radio network of stations to East Fife and the eastern Scottish Borders including Berwick-on-Tweed and northern Northumberland.
Following an OFCOM request, a new technical plan for the proposed transmitter network in the Scottish Borders will be prepared which will give additional coverage to that proposed in our original plan.
We intend to have both licence areas broadcasting by the end of 2024.
TOWER DAB PARTNER COAST DAB AWARDED INVERCLYDE LICENCE BY OFCOM 8/2/23
Tower DAB are delighted to announce that OFCOM have awarded the SSDAB multiplex operator's licence for Inverclyde to our partner Coast DAB Ltd. OFCOM were particularly impressed with our robust technical plan, which by using three transmitter sites will ensure that just under 82% of the population of the Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire and southern Argyll and Bute areas will be able to pick up a DAB signal within their homes. Outdoor and mobile coverage is expected to be even higher.
The three 'must carry' local community stations are expected to be Dunoon Community Radio, Lomond Radio from Alexandria, and Quality Radio from Paisley, although this is subject to confirmation. There will also be a number of new services broadcast to the Inverclyde area on DAB for the first time including BFBS Scotland aimed at Faslane personnel; Timeless Radio, and Celtic Music Radio.
Our technical roll out plan sees our first transmitter come on air in the Summer of 2024, and the multiplex launched with three transmitters on 1st August 2024.
DABSTREAM LTD LOSE STIRLING & FALKIRK MULTIPLEX APPLICATION - 3/4/23
We are sorry to announce that OFCOM have decided to award the licence to operate the Stirling & Falkirk multiplex to a competing applicant. We shall be watching closely the progress they make towards launching the multiplex, and we will be extremely concerned if the new licencee does not adhere to the equal and equitable access terms that we proposed in our application.
The new licencee plans to operate with a single transmitter to cover the whole area from a site at Earl's Hill.
TOWER DAB APPLIES FOR FOUR NEW BROADCAST AREAS
BERWICKSHIRE (SCOTTISH BORDERS) and EAST FIFE
INVERCLYDE and STIRLING & FALKIRK
TOWER DAB Ltd, the wholly owned subsidiary of C.I. Broadcasting Ltd has applied for two new SSDAB multiplex operators licences currently being advertised by OFCOM in it's own name and a further two licences in conjunction with local partners.
We've been involved in operating SSDAB multiplexes since Day 1 of the OFCOM trials back in 2015, and have a wealth of experience in operating and building complex SFNs and simple multiplexes.
SCOTTISH BORDERS (BERWICKSHIRE AND ROXBURGHSHIRE).
We are the company that suggested to OFCOM that there should be a multiplex for the Scottish Borders which is currently underserved by Digital Radio, and with the exception of the BBC National multiplex and one transmitter at Selkirk broadcasting the national D1 commercial multiplex there are no local or regional DAB transmitters within the area.
Along with our local community radio partners, we intend to submit a technically robust application that will cover the towns of Berwick on Tweed, Galashiels, Selkirk, Hawick, Jedburgh, Melrose and most of the existing unserved area being advertised by OFCOM. Covering over 1,700 sq km this area is one of the geographically largest areas being advertised, being mainly rural but having three major trunk roads: A1, A7 and A68 running through the area carrying thousands of vehicles each day.
EAST FIFE
Another area that we believe is underserved by Digital Radio, we intend to apply for the multiplex licence to serve the East Neuk of Fife, along with St. Andrews, which with it's large university, military presence, and sporting heritage is a magnet for tourists and visitors to the area.
INVERCLYDE
With our local bid partner Coast DAB Ltd we believe we have designed a robust and cost effective transmitter network which will enable us to bring DAB Digital Radio to 'The Big Z' of West Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde and the Cowal peninsula.
STIRLING & FALKIRK
Again with our local bid partner DABStream Ltd we are excited to have been able to submit an application for the Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire council areas. Our local knowledge and expertise will enable us to bring up to 20 new DAB radio stations to this area.
FULL APPLICATIONS CAN BE VIEWED ON THE OFCOM WEBSITE
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A BID PARTNER STATION?.
The closing date for Expressions of Interest has now closed as the applications were submitted on 15th October 2022. However, we are always interested in hearing from potential service providers (radio stations) so please contact us via the Contact Us page and we'll get right back to you.