| Licensed area | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 12B (225.648 MHz) |
| Air date | 27 September 1995 |
| Owner | BBC |
| Website | www.bbc.co.uk |
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.
As of the end of 2017, more than 97% of the UK's population are within reach of the multiplex following the completion of the switching on of a fourth set of new transmitters over the previous two years which had seen the reach increase from 93%. Any further expansion of DAB radio is awaiting a decision by government on any possible digital radio switchover.
Stations carried
The following channels are receivable on any digital-equipped DAB radio in the BBC National DAB coverage area:
Full time services
| Service | Service ID | Bit rate | Audio channels | Description | Analogue availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBC Radio 1 | C221 | 128 kbit/s | Joint stereo | Youth-orientated popular music | 97.1 - 99.8 MHz |
| BBC Radio 2 | C222 | 128 kbit/s | Joint stereo | Adult-oriented popular music | 88.1 - 90.2 MHz |
| BBC Radio 3 | C223 | 160-192 kbit/s | Joint stereo | Classical music | 90.3 - 92.6 MHz |
| BBC Radio 4 | C224 | 80-128 kbit/s | Mono / joint stereo | News, drama and speech | 92.5 - 96.1 MHz 103.5 - 104.9 MHz 198 LW |
| BBC Radio 5 Live | C225 | 64-80 kbit/s | Mono | Live news and sport | 693, 909, 990 kHz and BBC Local Radio overnight |
| BBC Radio 6 Music | C22B | 128 kbit/s | Joint stereo | Alternative music | — |
| BBC Radio 1Xtra | C22A | 128 kbit/s | Joint stereo | Black contemporary music | — |
| BBC Radio 4 Extra | C22C | 80 kbit/s | Mono | Archive comedy and drama | — |
| BBC Asian Network | C236 | 64 kbit/s | Mono | South Asian orientated music | Various MW |
| BBC World Service | C238 | 64 kbit/s | Mono | International news and current affairs | On Radio 4 frequencies between 01:00 and 05:20 daily |
| BBC Guide | E1C79E5E | 16-32 kbit/s | Data | Hidden service, EPG data | — |
Part time services
The BBC National DAB multiplex makes 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.
| Station Name | Description |
|---|---|
| BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra | Live sport - broadcasts either Test Match Special or a second sporting event when BBC Radio 5 Live is also broadcasting live sport. |
Former services
Two regularly-scheduled BBC Radio 4 long-wave programmes were, prior to April 2024, provided to DAB listeners by way of dynamic daily opt-outs which popped up on the national DAB multiplex. With the cessation of separate scheduling on long wave from 1 April 2024, these programmes were relocated to broadcast on Radio 4 Extra, ending use of the dynamic pop-ups for these.
| Station Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Yesterday In Parliament | Radio 4 LW opt-out simulcast; weekdays 08:30-09:00; Saturdays 08:45-09:00. |
| The Daily Service | Christian Music and Worship, Radio 4 LW opt-out simulcast; weekdays 09:45-10:00. |
"Pop-up" services
The BBC has experimented with short-term "pop-up" digital radio stations, each broadcasting for approximately four days at a time, covering music festivals and other special events. The first to broadcast was BBC Radio 5 Live Olympics Extra in 2012, then BBC Radio 2 Eurovision launched for the first time in 2014, and was joined by BBC Radio 2 Country, BBC Music Jazz in 2015 and BBC Radio 2 50s in April 2016. When these temporary stations are on air, there is normally a reduction in bit rate of their parent station.
| Station Name | Description |
|---|---|
| BBC 5 Live Olympics Extra | Available during 2012 Summer Olympics with coverage consisting of sports commentaries. |
| BBC Radio 2 Eurovision | Launched in May 2014 to extend the BBC's coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest. Returned in 2015 to provide coverage of the 2015 contest. |
| BBC Radio 2 Country | Launched in March 2015 to provide coverage of London's C2C: Country to Country Country music festival. Returned in 2016 to cover the 2016 festival and again in 2017. |
| BBC Music Jazz | Launched in November 2015 as a joint venture between BBC Radio 3 and Jazz FM, with programming celebrating jazz music in all its varied forms. |
| BBC Radio 2 50s | Launched in April 2016 as a celebration of the music and entertainment of the 1950s. |
| BBC Radio 1 Vintage | Available in September 2017 as a celebration of BBC Radio 1's 50th anniversary. |
| BBC Radio 2 Beatles | Launched in September 2019 as a celebration of 50 years of the Beatles album Abbey Road featuring interviews on how the album was created and how it influenced the next generation of music artists. |
Planned station closures
In 2010, the BBC published plans to close BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Asian Network. These plans were later rejected, saving both stations from closure. Radio 6 Music was retained after listening figures increased and a campaign was set up on Facebook, which gained 180,000 supporters.
Future services
In February 2024, the BBC proposed launching four services on DAB+ and BBC Sounds. The services will be sister stations to BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3, plus BBC Radio 1 Dance. The plans are subject to the relevant regulatory approvals, including a Public Interest Test for the proposal to launch the stations via DAB+, a process which the BBC will start in the coming weeks and is expected to run until the end of 2024.
See also
References
- "TV: September Through the Years". Unreality Primetime. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
- "Arqiva confirms BBC DAB rollout complete". Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
- "BBC 6 Music and Asian Network face axe in shake up". BBC News. 2 March 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
- "BBC Trust rejects 6 Music closure plan". BBC News. 5 July 2010. Archived from the original on 21 July 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
- "Plans announced for new, distinctive digital music stations as extensions for BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
