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Press Releases
Â鶹Éç announces extension to DAB digital radio network
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Jenny Abramsky, Â鶹Éç Director of Audio & Music, has announced the build-out of the next phase of the Â鶹Éç's DAB digital radio transmitter network.
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This confirms the location of the next nine transmitters, to be provided by Arqiva, which the Â鶹Éç hopes will be on-air by the end of April.
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Two of the new DAB enabled transmitters are already radiating the Â鶹Éç's services, having been commissioned into service over the last couple of weeks.
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These two – one located at Christchurch and the other at Sergeant's Law – extend the coverage of the DAB network around Newport, Gwent and South West Glasgow and Dumbarton respectively.
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The other seven transmitters are planned to enter service gradually over the next few months as the final project work is completed. These will serve the following areas:
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- Bury St Edmunds (Puttocks Hill)
- Norwich and parts of East Norfolk (Stoke Holy Cross)
- Arundel and the South Downs (Burton Down)
- Alnwick and East Northumberland (Chatton)
- Newhaven (Newhaven)
- Mansfield (Fishponds Hill)
- York and the East Riding of Yorkshire (Acklam Wold)
In addition, Jenny Abramsky confirmed that the Â鶹Éç was hoping to bring its DAB service to the Isle of Man and was working towards establishing a transmitter covering Douglas and the southern part of the island.
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It is planned that this transmitter should come on stream over the summer, subject to planning approval and engineering constraints.
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Digital radio listeners will be able to tune in to the Â鶹Éç's portfolio of digital-only stations: 1Xtra; Five Live Sports Extra; 6 Music; Â鶹Éç 7; and the Â鶹Éç Asian Network; as well as the Â鶹Éç's national radio stations: Radio 1; Radio 2; Radio 3; Radio 4; Radio Five Live; and the Â鶹Éç World Service – and enjoy the benefits of digital audio broadcasting and the additional choice it offers.
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Listeners will need a DAB digital radio to receive the Â鶹Éç's digital radio broadcasts.
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Existing digital radio listeners in each area should carry out an "autotune" to scan and store the newly available Â鶹Éç services in their radio set's station list.
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For advice on receiving Â鶹Éç digital radio and to check coverage, listeners can call the Â鶹Éç Digital Helpline on 08700 10 10 10 or visit bbc.co.uk/digitalradio. Ìý
All ten transmitters are being built and will be operated for the Â鶹Éç by Arqiva. They represent the first of the new transmitters to be ordered under the £1.8billion transmission agreement put in place between the two companies in September 2006.
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Jenny Abramsky said: "I'm delighted to be able to announce these new transmitters. They represent a real and worthwhile improvement to the coverage of our DAB digital radio network. It shows the Â鶹Éç's continuing commitment to making our services available on DAB digital radio."
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Paul Eaton, Head of Broadcast Radio at Arqiva, said: "For many years we've built and operated transmitters for independent radio stations but these are the first we've provided for the Â鶹Éç.
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"It's the start of a new digital era which will see us roll-out a completely new digital TV network for the Â鶹Éç and, if approved, a substantial increase to their DAB network.*
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"We look forward to working closely with the Â鶹Éç throughout and beyond Digital Switch Over."
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Notes to Editors
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*Any expansion to the Â鶹Éç's DAB network beyond the transmitters mentioned in this release is subject to the further approval from the Â鶹Éç Trust.
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