Local radio station Bournemouth One has formed a new partnership with regional radio owner Nation Broadcasting

The future of radio is digital: Local radio station Bournemouth One has formed a new partnership with regional radio owner Nation Broadcasting in a bid to bring over a dozen new radio stations to Bournemouth via a new DAB digital radio multiplex.

Radio regulator Ofcom is currently welcoming applications to run the multiplex licence, with a closing date of July 18th 2024, and Bournemouth One and Nation Broadcasting are the first to announce their plans.

If successful, Bournemouth's new local radio station could be broadcasting on DAB as early as next year, in addition to its current digital platforms including smart speakers, TuneIn and Radioplayer.

Earlier this year, official radio listening figures revealed more people are now listening to radio online than via AM/FM for the first time ever. Digital Radio, which includes online and DAB, makes up 77% of all listening, which equates to 44 million adults across the country.

Roy Martin, co-founder of Bournemouth One said of the partnership: “It makes perfect sense for Bournemouth One, as the only locally-based commercial radio station, to team up with a company that has the experience and infrastructure to successfully launch, operate and finance the small-scale DAB multiplex for the town, especially as it is already successfully covering the broadcast area with Nation Radio.

“Bournemouth One is already attracting a substantial audience online following our launch in January, and we can’t wait to bring this and extra services to DAB in the next year or so.”

Jason Bryant, Executive Chairman of Nation Broadcasting said: "Nation has been involved in small scale DAB right from the early days of the Ofcom trials, from running multiplexes to backing them with our own services and deploying world leading technology through our DAB multiplex business Factum Radioscape.

"Nation has a proven track record in supporting broadcasters, both commercial and non-profit in achieving access to DAB digital radio, and I am excited for the opportunity for Nation to lead on DAB digital radio development in Bournemouth and other areas of the UK."