Ofcom has today unveiled the list of areas that it will soon be served by small scale DAB services delivering a host of new digital radio stations to listeners in local communities.
The list of 27 areas includes Carlisle and Penrith that will see a raft of new digital radio services launch across the area.
Workington and Whitehaven and Barrow will also see small scale DAB licences that could offer a range of new radio stations including additional community radio stations.
The parent company of Penrith.Town, MouseMatMedia has announced it plans to launch two new radio stations in early 2024 serving Penrith, Carlisle and Wigton as well as work to support community radio stations in the area.
CWR will serve the Carlisle and a Wigton area with Penrith.Town Radio serving Penrith and the local area offering a mix of music from the 80’s through to latest chart hits, news, sport, traffic and travel weather, chat and local information tailored to the local area of both stations.
Alongside the launch of the stations MouseMatMedia plans to establish a media academy that will help people of all ages gain experience in the media industry and plans to provide facilities for community radio and podcasters to use alongside the new radio station studios.
A spokesperson for MouseMatMedia said “We have engaged with Ofcom for some time about the need for expanding the digital radio provision in Cumbria that has see a wave of cuts to local media from tv to radio with the cuts to the local BBC radio the latest blow to local services.”
“We submitted a letter of intent to Ofcom in June supporting the need for the expansion of DAB services in Cumbria. It’s great to see that Ofcom have recognised the need to expand the provision of digital radio in the area and we look forward to being part of the new evolution true independent local radio serving local communities and working with the community.”
The full list of areas that Ofcom are licensing in round 6 are:
• Ayr, Troon and Irvine
• Barrow-in-Furness
• Bournemouth and Boscombe
• Bridgend
• Carlisle and Penrith
• Catterick, Rippon and Thirsk
• Corby and Kettering
• Cumbernauld and Coatbridge
• East Devon
• Erewash
• Halifax
• Huddersfield
• Huntingdon
• Isle of Wight
• Lanarkshire
• Larne, Carrickfergus and Newtown Abbey
• North Ayrshire
• Nuneaton and Hinckley
• Paisley and West Glasgow
• Poole, Purbeck and Wimborne
• Portadown and Craigavon
• South Craven, Wharfedale and Worth Valley
• Sunderland
• Walsall
• Weymouth, Dorchester and Bridport
• Workington and Whitehaven
• Yeovil
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