More bidders emerge for Bournemouth small-scale DAB multiplex

Two more bidders have announced their intensions to bid for the upcoming small-scale DAB multiplex for Bournemouth.

Locally-based Bournemouth Digital Radio is backed by radio professionals with decades of experience, who have already been successful in other areas of the UK.

BDR’s Chief Executive, James Ross says: “Having been brought up in Bournemouth, it has always been my ambition to see more local radio choices here, and to bring additional radio services to the area, and I hope that this will be our chance. We are putting together a very strong application so we can offer the best possible service to listeners in Bournemouth”.

Chairman of Hospital Radio Bedside, Gary Plummer who is a director of BDR says “Hospital Radio Bedside will be excited to join with Bournemouth Digital Radio, should they be successful in the bid, as HRB evolves into becoming a health and wellbeing radio station. This new DAB radio venture will allow HRB to broadcast to the wider community of Bournemouth & Boscombe”.

Additionally, Bournemouth-based broadcaster Tim Butcher is a director of BDR. Tim hosted the 2CRFM Breakfast Show for many years and later presented for Original 106 and BBC Radio Solent. He is now a broadcast consultant, advising radio stations on expanding operations and launching new ventures.

Tim is an advocate of more radio choice and says: “Bournemouth has sadly seen a reduction in local stations over recent years. Bournemouth Digital Radio offers the opportunity for more local and community stations to launch and to reflect life in this amazing area of the South, that we call home.”

Bournemouth Digital Radio is also receiving support from other radio stations who will bring a range of diverse services to the Multiplex including Forest FM, Radio Wimborne, Gaydio, London Music Radio, and many more.

The company says any existing Ofcom-licenced community FM radio stations will be entitled to free carriage on BDR’s multiplex, in return for their support for the application. Email james@bournemouthdigital.radio for more details.

In addition, BH Community DAB is also applying for the Bournemouth licence, made up of Hospital Radio Bedside and Hope FM in Bournemouth, along with Hot Radio and broadcast engineering company Wide FM in Poole.

Kevin Scott, CEO of the Hot Radio Family, and Director of BH Community DAB says: “I believe it is imperative that this new community asset stays in the hands of the community, enabling us to offer an accessible and affordable DAB platform for community radio stations, as well as current radio broadcast providers from all sectors.”

Operations Manager at Hope FM, and fellow BH Community DAB Director, Dan Withey says: “It’s exciting that community interest radio stations throughout BCP and Dorset will finally get an affordable route into local DAB broadcasting – this has simply not been an option for many of us until now.”

Hospital Radio Bedside Chairman, Gary Plummer commented: “HRB is excited to be part of this new venture. Part of our strategy is to develop ourselves as a community-based health and wellbeing-based radio station, and offers HRB an amazing opportunity for us to connect with our wider community.”

More details via info@bhcommunitydab.co.uk.

The two new announcements add to the release last month regarding the bid being made by Nation Broadcasting in collaboration with new local commercial radio station Bournemouth One.