BBC National DAB

is a digital audio broadcasting multiplex in the UK, for a number of radio stations which have UK wide coverage. The multiplex is owned and operated by the BBC and is transmitted from a number of transmitter sites across the country; it only carries BBC radio stations.

Stations carried

The following channels are receivable on any digital-equipped DAB radio in the BBC National DAB coverage area:

Full time services

Part time services

The BBC National DAB multiplex makes extensive use of dynamic ensemble reconfiguration to allow a number of part-time services to broadcast. While these additional services are on air the bit rates of (one or more of) BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live, and data services are reduced.

BBC Asian Network was due to be axed in around 2011 after plans to close down the station were published. The BBC also planned to close 6 Music.^[2] Since then both stations have been saved from closure - 6 Music was retained after listening figures increased and a campaign was set up on Facebook which had 180,000 supporters.^[3]

Future

The BBC had initially planned to increase their coverage of their DAB multiplex to at least 92% of the population by adding 61 new transmitters to their existing coverage.

With the publication of the Delivering Quality First paper, it was proposed that DAB coverage would be increased to 97% in the near future.^[4] A total of 162 new transmitters were planned to be brought into service over a two-year period. The first of these transmitters went into service at the start of 2014.

References