Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to help ensure that people are able to access digital radio content.

Radio plays an important role in communities across the UK. It helps connect listeners with their community, and provide an important source of information, entertainment and support. This was recognised by the joint government and industry Digital Radio and Audio Review, which highlighted evidence from WaveLength.

The BBC and commercial radio are responsible for the operation of their respective radio networks, including the DAB radio networks. This includes delivering coverage to areas and the provision of radio services to listeners. Nevertheless, the Government recognises the importance of listeners being able to access their favourite radio stations on digital, which is why we have worked with the radio industry to help improve digital radio coverage for listeners across the UK.

Between 2015 and 2018, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) provided capital funding to support the BBC and commercial radio’s expansion of the UK’s local DAB radio network. This delivered improvements across the network and 172 new digital radio transmitters at sites across the UK.

DCMS has also supported the development of small-scale DAB, which provides a flexible and inexpensive approach to the terrestrial broadcast of digital radio services to a relatively small geographic area.

This initiative will provide local commercial and community radio stations with a viable opportunity to broadcast on digital, and reach under-served areas.