Sound Digital, also known as SDL National, is a semi-national commercial digital radio multiplex in the United Kingdom, owned by Arqiva, Bauer Media Group and News Broadcasting. The multiplex covers 73% of the population from a total of 45 transmitters.
History Following the collapse of the winning 4 Digital Group bid for the second national ensemble in 2008, the capacity was re-advertised in 2014. Two bids were received, Sound Digital and Listen2Digital, a consortium run by Orion Media and Babcock International Group. On 27 March 2015, Sound Digital were selected as the winner.
Between award and launch, Premier Praise and Panjab Radio, a Listen2Digital station, joined the line up along with DAB+ stations Fun Kids and Magic Chilled. Also, BMR and UCB Inspirational were rebranded Awesome Radio and UCB2 respectively and TalkBusiness was replaced by Listen2Digital station Share Radio.
Test transmission commenced in February 2016, which consisted of Sound Waves and Sound Waves+ for DAB and DAB+ respectively. An official launch took place on 29 February, with the majority of stations launching on this date and the remainder following over the next month.
On 15 May 2018, Sound Digital announced the planned introduction of additional 19 transmittersto improve coverage in the South West, East Anglia, Wales and North of Scotlandincreasing the multiplex's coverage to 83%, adding nearly 4 million new listeners in more than 1.6m new households.
In September 2023 Bauer announced that Mellow Magic, Planet Rock, Scala Radio, Absolute 80s and Absolute 90s would transition to DAB+ from that October, freeing up capacity for the addition of Absolute Radio Country, Absolute Classic Rock, Magic Chilled, Magic Soul, Magic at the Musicals, Heat Radio and Kerrang! Radio to the Sound Digital lineup.Bauer Media, 2023-09-26
Stations carried DAB ServiceService IDBit rateAudio channelsDescriptionDAB launch dateFix Radio CDDA64 kbit/sMono LSFStation for the building trade Premier Christian RadioCCD864 kbit/sMono LSFChristian music and speechPremier Praise!CDD864 kbit/sMono LSFSister station to Premier Christian RadioSunrise RadioC9D856 kbit/sMonoAsian music and speech programmesTimes RadioC0D864 kbit/sMonoNews and culture29 June 2020Virgin Radio UKC3D880 kbit/sMonoRock/pop music
DAB+ ServiceService IDBit rateAudio channelsDescriptionDAB+ launch dateAbsolute Radio 80sC8D832 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v280s music Absolute Radio 90sCAC232 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v290s musicAbsolute Radio Classic RockC7C932 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2Classic rock musicAbsolute Radio CountryCCE732 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2Country music Boom Radio UKC5EF24 kbit/sMono HE-AAC v1Pop musicBFBS UK C5E024 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2Armed forces radioCapital AnthemsCAFC32 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2Contemporary hit radio Capital Xtra ReloadedCCE940 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2Non-stop old skoolGreatest Hits Radio 60sCFFA32 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v21960s music Hits Radio ChilledCEE632 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2"Laid-back" pop and R&B from 90s to nowJazz FMCAD732 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2Jazz musicKerrang! RadioC6CF32 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2Rock music Kisstory R&BCFF932 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2Rhythm and bluesMagic at the MusicalsCAEA32 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2Showtunes and soundtracksMagic ClassicalCDE632 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2ClassicalMagic SoulC3D932 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2Soul, funk and discoMellow MagicC5D832 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2Relaxing and melodic music Planet RockC7D832 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2Classic rock radioRadio X Classic RockC5F632 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2Classic Rock music16 February 2023Smooth 80sCAFB32 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v21980s musicTalkradioCAEB32 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2Talk Radio (Right-Wing News)9 June 2020TalkSport 2C1D832 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2Specialist shows, documentaries, and live sport commentary9 June 2020Virgin ChilledC83632 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2Chilled Pop Music22 December 2018Virgin LegendsC73632 kbit/sStereo HE-AAC v2Classic Rock/Pop Music22 December 2018
Former services Services previously carried on the multiplex include:
Awesome Radio - never fully launched, promo barker ran from launch of SDL until removal in August 2017 Capital (Taylor's Version) - temporary station during summer 2024 to coincide with the Eras Tour Capital Chill - added 13 February 2023, removed 12 September 2024 to make way for Capital Anthems Fun Kids - removed 31 August 2023. However the station continues to broadcast on local DAB multiplexes in selected areas of the UK. Heat Radio - removed February 2019; re-added as a DAB+ station along with other Bauer stations 16 October 2023; removed again 16 September 2024 to make way for Kisstory R&B JACK Radio - replaced by Union JACK Dance in December 2020 Kisstory - moved to Digital One in February 2019 Love Sport - removed late 2020 Panjab Radio - moved to local DAB in December 2019 Share Radio - moved to online-only service May 2017 UCB2 - moved to Digital One as a DAB+ service in March 2022 Union JACK - launched on 9 September 2016, removed on 24 February 2022 Union JACK Dance - launched on 10 December 2020, removed on 24 February 2022 Union JACK Rock - launched on 10 December 2020, removed on 24 February 2022
See also BBC National DAB Digital One
References
External links