Digital One

Last updated • 6 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Digital One
Licensed areaUnited Kingdom
Frequency
  • 11D (222.064MHz)
    • England
    • Wales
    • Northern Ireland
  • 12A (223.936MHz)
    • Scotland
Air date15 November 1999 (1999-11-15)
Owner Arqiva

Digital One is a national commercial digital radio multiplex in the United Kingdom, owned by Arqiva. As of March 2010, the multiplex covered more than 90% of the population [1] from 137 transmitters. [2] Coverage was extended to Northern Ireland in July 2013. It contains a list of DAB and DAB+ radio stations operated by Bauer Media Audio UK, Global Media & Entertainment and News Broadcasting.

Contents

Stations carried

DAB

ServiceService IDBit rateAudio channelsDescriptionDAB launch dateAnalogue availability
Absolute Radio C1C080 kbit/sMonoAdult alternative music, carries London output during any programme splits, but with national news and advertising15 November 19991197 kHz, 1215 kHz, 1242 kHz, 1260 kHz (closed in January 2023)
Kiss UK C5C080 kbit/sMono LSFA London-based station specialising in hip hop, R&B, urban and electronic dance music owned by Bauer Radio. Also broadcast on FM in London, South Wales and the Severn Estuary, and East Anglia; all frequencies including D1 now share programme content27 December 201297.2, 100, 101 and 106.1 MHz

(closed in September 2024)

Kisstory CFE680 kbit/sMono LSFOld Skool & Anthems. Owned by Bauer Radio as a sibling to Kiss FM UK. Was broadcast on Sound Digital prior to D1 addition.11 February 2019 [3]
LBC C0C264 kbit/sMonoA national talk and phone-in station owned by Global Radio and also broadcast on 97.3 MHz in London.11 February 2014 [4] 97.3 MHz (London)
Magic C0C680 kbit/sMonoMelodic soft adult contemporary hits. Replaces Absolute Radio 90s.1 January 2015105.4 MHz (London)
Talksport C0C064 kbit/sMono LSF Sport and talk 15 November 19991053, 1071, 1089 kHz

DAB+

ServiceService IDBit rateAudio channelsDescriptionDAB launch dateAnalogue availability
Capital Dance C9ED40 kbit/sStereo DAB+Dance1 October 2020
Capital UK C5DA40 kbit/sStereo DAB+Contemporary Hit Radio12 September 201695.8–107.6 MHz
Capital XTRA C37B40 kbit/sStereo DAB+Urban and Dance Music. Formerly branded as Choice FM; relaunched and renamed to coincide with its national DAB availability7 October 201396.9 and 107.1 MHz (London)
Classic FM C2A164 kbit/sStereo DAB+Classical music15 November 199999.9–101.9 MHz
GB News Radio C4F024 kbit/sMono DAB+Talk Radio (Right-Wing News)4 January 2022
Gold UK CEE840 kbit/sStereo DAB+Classic hits. Previously transmitted on local AM and DAB prior to D1 addition, having evolved from Capital Gold (1988).10 June 2019
Heart Dance CFE840 kbit/sStereo DAB+Rhythmic adult contemporary21 June 2019
Heart UK CFD140 kbit/sStereo DAB+Adult contemporary music29 February 201696–107 MHz
Heart 70s CAE932 kbit/sStereo DAB+1970s music30 August 2019
Heart 80s [5] C1DC40 kbit/sStereo DAB+1980s music14 March 2017
Heart 90s CBE940 kbit/sStereo DAB+1990s music29 August 2019
Heart 00s C9F340 kbit/sStereo DAB+2000s music20 May 2022
LBC News C8EA32 kbit/sMono DAB+24-hour rolling news station with updates every 20 minutes.28 October 20191152 kHz (London)
Radio X C4CD40 kbit/sStereo DAB+ Rock station primarily playing alternative and indie music. Previously broadcast in mono on DAB from launch until moving to DAB+ on 25 October 2019.21 September 2015104.9 MHz (London)

97.7 MHz (Manchester)

Smooth Chill C1C332 kbit/sStereo DAB+Chill out, ambient and trip-hop music.8 April 2020
Smooth Relax C4FB32 kbit/sStereo DAB+Relaxing melodic hits.8 January 2024
Smooth UK C6C040 kbit/sStereo DAB+Melodic hits from the past five decades.12 March 202096.4–108.0 MHz
UCB 1 C4CA24 kbit/sStereo DAB+Christian music1 December 2009 [6] [7]
UCB 2 CBD832 kbit/sStereo DAB+Christian music

History

On 24 March 1998, the Radio Authority advertised for the first national ensemble to be broadcast on DAB, with the three national commercial services on FM and medium wave required to be included in the ensemble. This included Classic FM, Talk Radio UK (now Talksport) and Virgin Radio (now Absolute Radio). [8] The licence was awarded to the sole applicant, GWR Group and NTL Broadcast to form Digital One. [9] The original licence application included the following stations: [10]

Digital One Ltd (original application)
Classic FM Classical musicGWR (now part of Global Radio)
Classic Gold RockRock musicNTL
Club danceDance musicTBA
Plays, books and musicComedy, drama and serialsTBA
Rolling news serviceRolling newsITN
Soft ACFemale contemporary musicTBA
Sports channelLive sports and commentTalk Radio UK
Talk Radio (now Talksport)Talk radioTalk Radio UK (now owned by Wireless Group)
Teen and chart hitsPop and dance musicGWR
Virgin Radio (now Absolute Radio)Complementary rock music SMG plc (station is now owned by Bauer Media)

Digital One was due to launch on 1 October 1999, [11] but this was postponed until 15 November 1999. [12]

The "Classic Gold Rock" service eventually went on air as Planet Rock, which remains on air, having migrated from D1 to the Sound Digital multiplex in 2016; it is, however, the only one of the D1 launch stations (bar the INR simulcasts) still to be broadcasting as of 2017, and is also the longest-established DAB-first service in UK national radio, having been a digital-only service until 2013, when new owner Bauer put PR on their 105.2 FM frequency in the West Midlands (previously Kerrang! Radio); the FM berth was turned over to Absolute Radio in September 2015, leaving Planet Rock as a digital-only service once again. The "plays, books and music" service went on air as Oneword. The "Teen & Chart Hits" service became Core, and the "Soft AC" service – which was ultimately provided by the then Capital Radio Group (now part of Global Radio) was launched as Life (later known as Capital Life). The "Sports Channel" proposal was dropped as a separate entity and instead combined with Talk Radio in 2000 to form the current Talksport as broadcast on AM and DAB. ITN's rolling news service ultimately went on air as part of the multiplex, later joined by a business news service provided by Bloomberg. "Club Dance", however, never made it to air. The space released by the absence of the Club Dance and Sports Channel services from the eventual lineup was used to allow the Oneword service to end at midnight rather than the proposed 7pm, and also freed up a slot for a melodic easy-listening music service aimed at an older audience, the Saga-operated PrimeTime Radio.[ citation needed ]

After the closure of PrimeTime Radio in 2006, the original licence was amended to allow the launch of a new classic and contemporary jazz service, TheJazz which was launched on 25 December 2006, before 31 December 2006 deadline set in the licence amendment. [13]

On 11 February 2008 GCap announced that it was selling its interest in Digital One to Arqiva and that "non-core" DAB stations Planet Rock and TheJazz would be closing by the end of March 2008. Whilst TheJazz ceased broadcasting at midnight on 30 April 2008, Planet Rock was sold off and remains on air. GCap also closed down their two other D1-only stations, Core and Capital Life, prior to GCap being taken over later in 2008 by Global Radio.[ citation needed ]

Former services

Services previously carried on the multiplex include:

In addition to the audio services listed above a number of data services, short lived temporary audio services, and mobile video channels have been broadcast on this multiplex.

Birdsong

Birdsong was a temporary transmission of a continuously looping recording of bird song.[ citation needed ]

When the magazine-format digital radio station Oneword ceased in January 2008, the birdsong audio returned to the multiplex on the Oneword channel and the service name of the DAB channel changed to "Birdsong", until Amazing Radio launched on 1 June 2009. [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magic (UK radio station)</span> Adult contemporary radio station in London

Magic Radio is a British digital radio station owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK. The station is available on 105.4 FM in London and across the UK on DAB Digital Radio, via Bauer's Rayo platform, and on Smart speakers. It plays "soft adult contemporary classics" such as Elton John, Madonna, Hot Chocolate, Whitney Houston, UB40, Simply Red, and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GCap Media</span> British radio broadcasting company

GCap Media was a British commercial radio company formed from the merger of the Capital Radio Group and GWR Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smooth Chill</span> Radio station

Smooth Chill is a British digital radio station dedicated to chill out, ambient and trip hop music. On 3 September 2019, Chill was rebranded as Smooth Chill to align it with the Smooth Radio brand. It is owned and operated by Global.

Radio enjoys a huge following in the United Kingdom. There are around 600 licensed radio stations in the country. For a more comprehensive list see List of radio stations in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jazz FM (UK)</span> Radio station in London

Jazz FM is a British digital radio station owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK. It broadcasts across the United Kingdom and Malta predominantly playing jazz music, jazz standards as well as blues and soul music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bauer Media Audio UK</span> UK-based radio division of the Bauer Media Group

Bauer Media Audio UK is a UK-based radio division of Bauer Media Group owning brands; Absolute Radio, Greatest Hits Radio, Jazz FM, Hits Radio, KISS, Planet Rock, Magic, Kerrang! Radio and Heat Radio.

Planet Rock is a British digital radio station owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK as part of the Kiss Network. The station broadcasts classic rock music.

Galaxy Digital was a radio station broadcasting through the digital platform across the United Kingdom and was owned by Global Radio. It primarily broadcast in areas where Galaxy was not represented on FM, such as London, Leicester, Nottingham, and Derbyshire. It also formerly broadcast in Central Scotland, until the relaunch of Xfm Scotland as Galaxy Scotland, at which point Galaxy Digital on DAB was replaced with a relay of Xfm London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Arrow (radio station)</span> British radio station

The Arrow was a British digital radio station playing classic and contemporary rock music. It broadcast on DAB Digital Radio and was also streamed over digital satellite TV and online. The station was operated by Global; prior to Global's formation it was owned by their predecessor Chrysalis Radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital radio in the United Kingdom</span>

In the United Kingdom, the roll-out of digital radio has been proceeding since engineering test transmissions were started by the BBC in 1990 followed by a public launch in September 1995. The UK currently has one of the world's biggest digital radio networks, with about 500 transmitters, three national DAB ensembles, one regional DAB ensemble, 48 local DAB ensembles and an increasing number of small-scale DAB ensembles broadcasting over 250 commercial and 34 BBC radio stations across the UK. In London there are already more than 100 different digital stations available. In addition to DAB and DAB+, radio stations are also broadcast on digital television platform as well as internet radio in the UK. Digital radio ensemble operators and stations need a broadcasting licence from the UK's media regulator Ofcom to broadcast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global Media & Entertainment</span> British media company

Global Media & Entertainment Limited, trading as Global, is a British media company formed in 2007. It is the owner of the largest commercial radio company in Europe having expanded through a number of historical acquisitions, including Chrysalis Radio, GCap Media and GMG Radio. Global owns and operates seven core radio brands, all employing a national network strategy, including Capital, Heart, Gold, Classic FM, Smooth and LBC.

Capital Life, also known as Life, was a digital radio station broadcasting across the UK on the Digital One network and streamed online. Capital Life was due to be available on DTV but never launched due to the closure of the station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nation Broadcasting</span> British media company

Nation Broadcasting is a British media company headquartered in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. It currently owns and operates twelve Independent Local Radio stations across the United Kingdom.

Birdsong was a temporary radio channel which used to broadcast on national digital radio in the United Kingdom. The transmission consisted of a continuously looping recording of bird song. It was available via the Digital One DAB network. The recording was also available via the Digital One website until Autumn 2009 and the RadioBirdsong website. Originally starting out as a test signal on analogue radio in 1992 and then later broadcast on digital radio from 2003 to 2005, the channel gained regular listeners, who complained when it was taken off-air. In 2008–2009, the broadcast again existed as a 'filler' transmission until a commercially operated radio station, Amazing Radio, replaced it on 1 June 2009. On 27 December 2019, the channel returned to digital radio once again in the Portsmouth area.

Real Radio Digital was a DAB Digital Radio station operated by GMG Radio as part of their Real Radio network of stations. The station was designed to provide service over digital services in areas where Real was not available in a local form.

This is a timeline of the development of independent radio in the UK.

A timeline of notable events relating to Absolute Radio and its spin-off stations, and its predecessor Virgin 1215/Virgin Radio.

A timeline of notable events relating to Global Radio, a British media company founded in 2007.

This is a timeline of Capital London, previously known as Capital Radio, 95.8 Capital FM or similar variations, from its initial period as an Independent Local Radio station for Greater London to the present day CHR network serving most of the UK.

This is a list of notable events in the timeline of digital audio broadcasting in the UK.

References

  1. "Coverage – Future transmitters". ukdigitalradio.com. Digital One. Retrieved 13 March 2010. Although already covering more than 90% of the population...
  2. "Coverage – Current transmitters". ukdigitalradio.com. Digital One. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  3. "Kisstory Replaces Absolute 90s on Digital One", RadioToday, 2019-01-25
  4. "LBC Goes National: Everything You Need To Know". LBC. 11 February 2014. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  5. "Global to launch Heart 80s nationally on DAB", RadioToday 2017-03-13
  6. "UCB goes national on DAB digital radio" (PDF). United Christian Broadcasters. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2009.
  7. "Two new tenants for Digital One". Radio Today. 1 November 2009. Archived from the original on 8 November 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  8. "Radio Authority announces advertisement date for National Commercial Multiplex". Ofcom. Radio Authority. 5 March 1998. Retrieved 5 May 2007.
  9. "APPENDIX 3.6 – Digital audio broadcasting" (PDF). Competition Commission. Archived from the original on 12 June 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. "Radio Authority receives one application for first and only National Commercial Digital Multiplex licence". Ofcom . Radio Authority. Retrieved 12 May 2007.
  11. "Digital One is awarded 12 year digital licence". PR Newswire. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  12. Pearse, Justin (20 October 1999). "Motor Show: Digital One unveils launch line-up". ZDNet UK. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  13. "ANNEX – PART I – Conditions relating to simulcast services and digital sound programme services". Ofcom. Archived from the original (docx) on 15 June 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2007.
  14. About Smooth Radio – Smooth
  15. ukdigitalradio: News – NME Radio Stops Broadcasting on DAB Digital Radio
  16. 1 2 West, Dave (11 January 2008). "GCap closing two digital radio stations". Digital Spy . Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  17. Welsh, James (10 January 2008). "Oneword Radio to shut down". Digital Spy . Retrieved 11 February 2008.).
  18. RadioToday.co.uk, 2020-03-12
  19. "Amazing – a new DAB station". Radio Today . 1 June 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2009.