Costs, licences and coverage

Prices are for DAB+ at 40 Kbps, and are based on a minimum 12-month contract.

Prices for other bitrates or shorter contracts are available on request.

C-DSP

(Community Digital Sound Programme)

£1,000 per year

DSP

(Digital Sound Programme)

£2,200 per year

Licences

You must hold a valid C-DSP (Community Digital Sound Programme) or DSP (Digital Sound Programme) covering the North Aberdeen Small Scale DAB multiplex area before the service can begin broadcasting. Further information is available from Ofcom https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/radio-broadcast-licensing

If you are playing commercially-released music, you will also need PRS for Music and PPL licences. For community stations (C-DSP holders), there is a joint licence process: further information is available here. https://www.ppluk.com/music-licensing/radio-tv-and-online-licensing/community-radio/. For commercial stations (DSP holders), there are separate processes for PPL https://www.ppluk.com/music-licensing/radio-tv-and-online-licensing/commercial-radio/ and for PRS for Music https://www.prsformusic.com/licences/broadcasting-music-on-radio/commercial-radio-licence.

Criteria

Aberdeen DAB is designed to increase the diversity of our city’s radio landscape and support local people and communities. This means we’ll be prioritising applications for space on the multiplex, on the basis of four criteria:

  1. Does the station help people in Aberdeen to have a voice and create opportunities for local talent?
  2. Does the station serve audiences and populations that are currently underserved by radio in Aberdeen?
  3. Does the station add something new or different to what is currently available on radio in Aberdeen?
  4. How financially sustainable is the station?

We’ll ask you to respond to these criteria on the application form.

Additionally, as a condition of the Small-Scale DAB Licence we have a minimum of four spaces reserved for community stations (C-DSP licence holders), so we will prioritise those.

As part of the application process, we may look at your website and social media activity to help us understand your approach to communications.

Coverage

The coverage area for Aberdeen DAB is shown in the map.

Show large map

Ready to apply?

If you’re ready to apply to be part of Aberdeen DAB then you’ll need to complete the application form.