A WELSH Labour Assembly candidate has said large parts of Wales will ‘be left behind’ when a new range of digital radio stations launches on February 29.
Last year, Sound Digital won the second national DAB (digital radio) multiplex during a bidding process arranged by media regulator Ofcom. Sound Digital’s winning bid includes new radio station launches such as the return of Talk Radio, as well as Virgin Radio both previously available on medium wave.
However, technical limitations and the use of just 45 transmitters across the UK means that in Wales only urban areas around Swansea, south east Wales as well as parts of the north east will hear what industry bosses have described as the biggest expansion in radio choice for a generation.
Labour’s Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Candidate Marc Tierney who is a former radio broadcaster and programme manager said: “Digital radio offers new stations and more choice for listeners, so I welcome that further stations are being launched. But where I live and across large parts of mid, west and north west Wales, these stations just won’t be available on a digital radio.
“The march to a digital future shouldn’t end up with there being a two tier system. “The industry and UK Government is pushing the take up of digital radio, but there is little or no incentive in rural areas where listeners will miss out on the next digital switch on.
“Not only do rural communities have access to fewer TV stations on Freeview, the UK Government has failed to address problems with mobile coverage, and now we’re being left behind the rest of the country when it comes to radio too.
Marc Tierney has written to Ofcom Wales to ask what can be done to resolve the technical restrictions with a view to opening up discussions with authorities in the Irish Republic.
“An international agreement is in place which co-ordinates the use of broadcast frequencies – all of the new radio stations launching on 29th February share a frequency which could also be used in the Irish Republic at some point in the future.
Marc concluded: “In the same way discussions took place to resolve interference from Ireland to Freeview services in Pembrokeshire in the past, I hope that there can be a positive solution can be found to enhance coverage, widening choice for listeners here in Wales.”
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