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
| Service | Service ID | Bit rate | Audio channels | Description | Analogue availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBC Radio 1 | C221 | 128 kbit/s | Joint stereo | Youth orientated popular music and speech During opt-out programming the programme for England is carried |
97.6 - 99.9 MHz |
| BBC Radio 2 | C222 | 128 kbit/s | Joint stereo | Adult-oriented pop music | 88.0 - 90.2 MHz |
| BBC Radio 3 | C223 | 160-192 kbit/s | Joint stereo | Classical Music | 90.3 - 92.4 MHz |
| BBC Radio 4 (FM) | C224 | 80-128 kbit/s | Mono / joint stereo | News & Speech | 92.5 - 94.6 MHz 103.6 - 104.9 MHz |
| BBC Radio 5 Live | C225 | 64-80 kbit/s | Mono | Live news and sport | 909, 693, 990 kHz |
| BBC 6 Music | C22B | 128 kbit/s | Joint stereo | Classic rock, alternative rock, funk, indie, jazz, hip-hop | — |
| BBC Radio 4 Extra | C22C | 80 kbit/s | Mono | Comedy, drama and children's programming | — |
| BBC Radio 1Xtra | C22A | 128 kbit/s | Joint stereo | New black / urban music | — |
| BBC Asian Network | C236 | 64 kbit/s | Mono | South Asian orientated | Various MW |
| BBC World Service | C238 | 64 kbit/s | Mono | English language version of the BBC World Service | 648 kHz (East Anglia) |
| BBC Guide | E1C79E5E | 16-32 kbit/s | Data | Hidden service, EPG data | — |
| BBC Travel | E1C79E60 | 16-32 kbit/s | Data | Hidden service, travel information data | — |
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.
| Station Name | Description |
|---|---|
| 5 Live Sports Extra | Live sport - used to broadcast either Test Match Special or a second sporting event when BBC Radio 5 live is also broadcasting live sport. |
| Yesterday In Parliament | Radio 4 LW opt-out simulcast; Weekdays 08:30-09:00; Saturdays 08:45-09:00. |
| Daily Service | Christian Music and Worship, Radio 4 LW opt-out simulcast; Weekdays 09:45-10:00 |
| BBC Radio 4 LW | Vary rarely broadcast - used to broadcast Test Match Special on DAB when 5Live's stations are both broadcasting major sporting events. |
Future
The BBC 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. BBC Asian Network was due to be axed in around 2011 after plans to close down the station were published and it also contained plans to close 6 Music. Since then 6 Music has been saved from closure after listening figures increased and a campaign was set up on Facebook which had 180,000 supporters.
With the publication of the Delivering Quality First paper, it was proposed that DAB Coverage would be increased to 97% in the near future"Delivering Quality First". BBC Trust. 6 October 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/dqf/pdf/dqf_detailedproposals.pdf#page=11.[2]
References
- ^ "TV: September Through the Years". Unreality Primetime. http://primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk/tv-september-through-the-years/. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ "DELIVERING QUALITY FIRST: Public Consultation - Section 2: Television". BBC Trust. 6 October 2011. http://consultations.external.bbc.co.uk/bbc/dqf/consultation/subpage.2011-07-27.3215590272/.
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