LOCAL commercial radio stations could appear on digital radio sets if Ofcom grants permission.
B Radio, which already broadcasts on 95.6FM and online via its website, has applied to the regulator for a portion of the digital broadcasting spectrum known as an SSDAB licence.
It has formed a company called Local Radio Ltd for its bid, which is supported by other community radio stations including, Hospital Radio Reading, Marlow FM 97.5, Kennet Radio and Asian Star Radio.
B Radio conducted research which found that 37% of respondents said DAB was the primary platform they use to listen to the radio.
Gavin Harris, director of B Radio, said: “Our bid will allocate free DAB slots to locally owned and operated OFCOM C-DSP licence holders.
“We promise to always give local operators in our area access first to our Small Scale DAB Multiplex before offering space to other broadcasters.
“Our vision for small-scale DAB in Reading is a diverse collection of radio stations, with a ‘local first’ approach.”
This, he added, would “give Reading an amazing choice of locally programmed radio services”.
Local Radio Ltd says it welcomes any broadcasters or companies wishing to be part of our bid to register their interest via its website: localradio.co.uk
