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British Radio
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National DAB Multiplexes in the UK
DAB frequency plan
DAB radio stations in the United Kingdom are broadcast on a number of frequency blocks on VHF Band III. The original plan devised in Wiesbaden for the framework of DAB in Europe was to allocate frequency blocks 11B to 12D for UK DAB broadcasting. However, as part of its Review of Radio, Ofcom has expanded the frequency allocations for DAB and has advertised local and a national ensemble licence on blocks outside the original Wiesbaden plan on 10B to 10D and 11A. Block 5A has also been reserved for the launch of local ensembles.
Block 
Frequency 
England and Wales
Scotland
N.Ireland
5A
174.928 MHz
Local ensembles
None
None
10B
211.648 MHz
Local ensembles
None
None
10C
213.360 MHz
Local ensembles
None
None
10D
215.072 MHz
Local ensembles
None
None
11A
216.928 MHz
Digital Two
Digital Two
Digital Two
11B
218.640 MHz
Local ensembles
Local ensembles
None
11C
220.352 MHz
Local ensembles
Local ensembles
None
11D
222.064 MHz
Digital One ensemble
Local and regional
None
12A
223.936 MHz
Local and regional (except West Wales)
Digital One ensemble
None
12B
225.648 MHz
BBC national DAB ensemble
BBC national DAB
BBC National DAB
12C
227.360 MHz
Local and regional (except the south coast)
Local and regional
None
12D
229.072 MHz
Local ensembles (except the south coast)
Local ensembles
Local ensembles
 
BBC DAB National
BBC National DAB is a Digital audio broadcasting multiplex owned and operated by the BBC and is transmitted from a number of transmitter sites across the country; it only carries BBC radio stations.
Station
Service ID
Bitrate
Audio
Description
BBC Radio 1
C221
128kbit/s
Joint Stereo
Youth orientated Popular music and speech.
BBC Radio 2
C222
128kbit/s
Joint Stereo
Adult-oriented Pop Music
BBC Radio 3
C223
160-192kbit/s
Joint Stereo
Classic Music
BBC Radio 4 (FM)
C224
80-128kbit/s
Joint Stereo
News & Speech
BBC Radio 5 Live
C225
64-80kbit/s
Mono
Live news and sport
BBC 6 Music
C22B
128kbit/s
Joint Stereo
Classic rock Alternative rock Funk Indie Jazz Hip Hop
BBC Radio 4 Extra
C22C
80kbit/s
Mono
Comedy, Drama, and Children's programming
BBC 1Xtra
C22A
128kbit/s
Joint Stereo
New Black / urban music
BBC Asian Network
C236
64kbit/s
Mono
South Asian orientated
BBC World Service
C238
64kbit/s
Mono
English language version of the BBC World Service
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, and data services are reduced.
BBC Data Services
Digital radio text is the scrolling information that is broadcast along with the audio content on DAB.
This can be dynamic programme information, an email address or phone number for a particular show, news headlines and sports results - and on some music networks 'now playing' track information.
Some of the latest DAB products can pick up a broadcast EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) which provides free, useful information programme information for up to 7 days in advance prior to broadcast, allowing users to record a particular show automatically - or even an entire series of programmes.
 
Digital One
Digital One is a national commercial digital radio multiplex in the United Kingdom, owned by Arqiva. As of March 2010, the multiplex covers more than 90% of the population from a total of 137 transmitters. DigitalOne are currently exploring the expansion of their network into Northern Ireland.
Service Service ID Bitrate Audio channels Description
Absolute Radio
C1C0
112 kbit/s
Joint stereo
Adult contemporary music, carries London output during programme splits, but with national news and advertising
Absolute Radio 80s
C4C1
112 kbit/s
Joint stereo
Adult contemporary music from the 1980s
Absolute Radio 90s
C4C0
64 kbit/s
Mono LSF
Britpop, Indie, and Rock from the 1990s, shared space with Absolute Radio Extra
Absolute Radio Extra
C0C1
64-112 kbit/s
Mono
Part-time live Football and concerts, live sport
BFBS Radio
C3C0
80 kbit/s
Mono
Contemporary music
Classic FM
C2A1
160 kbit/s
Joint stereo
Classical music
Jazz FM
C0C2
80 kbit/s
Mono
Jazz music, initial test transmissions labelled as "Karma"
Planet Rock
C2C0
112 kbit/s
Joint stereo
A national Classic Rock station owned by Bauer Radio
Premier Christian Radio
C7C1
64 kbit/s
Mono LSF
Christian music
Smooth Radio
C6C0
80 kbit/s
Mono LSF
Easy Listening
Smooth Radio 70s
C3C5
80 kbit/s
Mono LSF
1970s music
Kiss UK
C0C1
80 kbit/s
Mono LSF
A London based station specialising in hip hop, R&B, urban and electronic dance music owned by Bauer Radio
Talksport
C0C0
64 kbit/s
Mono LSF
Sport and talk
UCB UK
C4CA
64kbit/s
Mono LSF
Christian music
INRIX UK TPEG
E1C000BA
16 kbit/s
Data
Hidden service
Traffic Master
E1C000B8
8 kbit/s
Data
Hidden service
What's On
E1C000B1
8 kbit/s
Data
Hidden service
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