Category Archives: north wales

North Wales Multiplex Launch

North Wales Launch

Earlier today (Friday 12th December) at Galeri Caernarfon, entertainer and actor Martyn Geraint and Welsh actor and singer-songwriter Bryn Fôn gave a boost to radio listeners in North West Wales when they pressed a big green switch, switching on two new digital transmitters.

Broadcasters switched on two new DAB digital radio transmitters, giving over 100,000 listeners local and national stations on DAB in the North West Wales area for the first time. The switch-on means listeners will be able to receive digital versions of four radio stations – BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio Wales, Capital and Smooth, and two additional stations, Nation Radio and Nation Hits!, will be available for the first time in the area only on DAB digital radio.

To receive the new services, listeners with digital radios may have to retune their sets. Find out more at getdigitalradio.com/retune.

The big switch-on took place at Galeri in Caernarfon, with the two new transmitters launching at Arfon (Nebo) and Conwy. Now these transmitters are switched on, local DAB digital radio coverage for these stations will initially go to 30% of the population in the licence area. This switch-on will signal the start of a wider plan to build additional transmitters in North West Wales by mid-2016, bringing local DAB coverage to almost 70% of the population.

The switch-on comes in the run up to Christmas when 40% of radios are sold, and coincides with a new digital radio marketing campaign featuring presenter and tech guru Suzi Perry, which is running on BBC radio and commercial radio stations. The ads say that digital radios make perfect Christmas gifts and are available from only £30.

In North Wales 49% of the population has access to a DAB digital radio. From 23 June to 14 September this year, 34% of radio listening hours were to digital platforms. This launch will mean that, since 2013, new DAB transmitters have brought local DAB coverage to around 1 million additional people in Wales for the first time, taking local DAB coverage in Wales to 72%. The next phase of coverage build-out will take local DAB coverage towards FM equivalence.

Across the UK, new transmitters have brought local DAB coverage to over five million people for the first time, taking local DAB population coverage from 66% to 73%. By the end of 2016, a further 200 local DAB transmitters are planned making DAB available to an additional eight million listeners across the UK. This will extend coverage to more than 90% of the population and add over 6,700 km of roads into coverage.

Coverage of the BBC’s UK-national DAB service in Wales is currently 85.8%. This will increase as part of the BBC’s buildout of 162 new digital radio transmitters to improve DAB coverage for its UK national network of stations from 95% to 97%.

A cumulative total of over 20 million digital radio sets have been sold to date in the UK and 58% of new cars now come fitted with digital radio as standard (CAP/SMMT September 2014).

Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy said: “I welcome today’s big switch-on in North West Wales and wish BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio Wales, Capital, Smooth, Nation Radio and Nation Hits! great success on DAB. The future of radio is digital and this is part of a major expansion of DAB digital radio coverage across the UK.”

Laurence Harrison, Director of Digital Radio UK, said: “This is a big day for radio and for North West Wales. From today 100,000 listeners will be able to receive their favourite local and national stations on DAB for the first time.”

Steve Austins, Editor of BBC Radio Wales said: “We’re pleased that Radio Wales will now be available to some areas of north-west Wales on DAB. We’re keen that as many people can hear our service as possible, so this is a positive step forward.”

Betsan Powys, Editor of BBC Radio Cymru said: “This is good news for listeners who will now be able to listen to Radio Cymru on DAB in the areas served, and clearly a step in the right direction in this part of Wales. DAB is an important listening option and we know that our listeners appreciate the choice of listening to Wales’ national Welsh-language radio station on as many platforms as possible.”

Mel Booth, Managing Director of Global Wales, said: “We’re excited to bring Capital and Smooth to digital radio in North West Wales. We know our listeners love the great music we play, and now they can listen in digital quality.”

Jason Bryant, Executive Chairman of Nation Radio and Nation Hits! said: “We are pleased to bring both Nation Radio and its sister station Nation Hits! to listeners in North West Wales. Each service adds real music variety and additional choice for listeners and, with both stations growing fast, we are proud to be the only commercial stations available on the DAB digital radio platform right across Wales.”

[Cymraeg] 

Ddydd Gwener 12 Rhagfyr yn Galeri, Caernarfon, rhoddodd y diddanwr a’r actor Martyn Geraint a’r actor a’r canwr-gyfansoddwr Bryn Fôn hwb mawr i wrandawyr radio yng Ngogledd Orllewin Cymru wrth iddynt bwyso botwm mawr gwyrdd i lansio dau drosglwyddydd digidol newydd (llun uchod).

Lansiwyd dau drosglwyddydd radio digidol DAB newydd gan y darlledwyr, gan roi gorsafoedd lleol a chenedlaethol ar DAB yn ardal Gogledd Orllewin Cymru i dros 100,000 o wrandawyr am y tro cyntaf. Mae’r lansiad yn golygu y bydd gwrandawyr yn gallu derbyn fersiynau digidol o bedair gorsaf radio – BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio Wales, Capital a Smooth, a dwy orsaf ychwanegol – Nation Radio a Nation Hits! – a fydd ar gael am y tro cyntaf yn yr ardal yn unig ar radio digidol DAB. Mae’r lansiad hefyd yn arwydd o ddechrau cynllun ehangach i adeiladu trosglwyddyddion ychwanegol erbyn canol 2016, gan ddod â gwasanaeth DAB lleol i bron 70% o’r boblogaeth yn yr ardal.

I dderbyn y gwasanaethau newydd, mae’n bosibl y bydd yn rhaid i wrandawyr ail-diwnio eu setiau radio digidol. Cewch wybod mwy ar getdigitalradio.com/retune.

Cynhaliwyd y lansiad mawr yn Galeri yng Nghaernarfon, gyda’r ddau drosglwyddydd newydd yn Arfon (“Nebo”) a Chonwy. Bellach bydd gwasanaeth radio digidol DAB lleol ar gyfer y gorsafoedd hyn yn cyrraedd 30% o’r boblogaeth yn yr ardal drwydded yn y lle cyntaf. Mae’r lansiad yn dechrau cynllun ehangach i adeiladu trosglwyddyddion ychwanegol yng Ngogledd Orllewin Cymru erbyn canol 2016, fydd yn dod â gwasanaeth DAB lleol i bron i 70% o’r boblogaeth yno.

Daw’r lansiad yn y cyfnod cyn y Nadolig pan fydd 40% o setiau radio yn cael eu gwerthu, ac mae’n cyd-daro ag ymgyrch farchnata radio digidol newydd sy’n cynnwys y cyflwynydd a’r arbenigwr ar dechnoleg, Suzi Perry, ymgyrch sydd i’w glywed ar orsafoedd radio y BBC a gorsafoedd radio masnachol. Mae’r negeseuon hyrwyddo yn dweud bod setiau radio digidol yn gwneud anrhegion Nadolig perffaith ac mae’r prisiau yn cychwyn o ddim ond £30.

Yng Ngogledd Cymru mae gan 49% o’r boblogaeth ddefnydd set radio digidol DAB. O 23 Mehefin – 14 Medi eleni, roedd 34% o oriau gwrando radio i lwyfannau digidol. Mae’r lansiad yn golygu bod trosglwyddyddion DAB newydd, ers 2013, wedi dod â gwasanaeth DAB lleol i tua 1 miliwn o bobl yn ychwanegol yng Nghymru am y tro cyntaf, gan gymryd gwasanaeth DAB lleol yng Nghymru i 72%. Bydd y cam nesaf o adeiladu yn cymryd gwasanaeth DAB lleol tuag at lefelau gwasanaeth FM. Ar draws y DU, mae trosglwyddyddion newydd wedi dod â gwasanaeth DAB lleol i dros bum miliwn o bobl am y tro cyntaf, gan gymryd gwasanaeth DAB lleol o 66% i 73% o’r boblogaeth. Erbyn diwedd 2016, mae 200 o drosglwyddyddion DAB lleol ychwanegol ar y gweill fydd yn rhoi DAB i wyth miliwn o wrandawyr ychwanegol ar draws y DU. Bydd hyn yn ymestyn y gwasanaeth i fwy na 90% o’r boblogaeth ac yn ychwanegu mwy na 6,700 cilometr o ffyrdd i’r ardal a wasanaethir.

Mae gwasanaethau DAB cenedlaethol y BBC a ddarperir ar draws y DU ar gael i 85.8% o bobl yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd. Bydd hyn yn cynyddu fel rhan o gynllun y BBC i adeiladu 162 o drosglwyddyddion radio digidol newydd, fydd yn gwella’r ddarpariaeth ar gyfer ei rwydwaith cenedlaethol ar draws y DU o 95% i 97%.

Mae cyfanswm o dros 20 miliwn o setiau radio digidol wedi cael eu gwerthu hyd yn hyn yn y DU. Mae 58% o geir newydd yn awr yn dod gyda radio digidol yn safonol (CAP / SMMT Medi 2014).

Meddai Ed Vaizey, y Gweinidog dros Gyfathrebu a’r Diwydiannau Digidol: “Rwy’n croesawu’r lansiad mawr heddiw yng Ngogledd Orllewin Cymru ac yn dymuno llwyddiant mawr i BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio Wales, Capital, Smooth, Nation Radio a Nation Hits! ar DAB. Mae dyfodol radio yn ddigidol ac mae hyn yn rhan o ehangu sylweddol darllediadau radio digidol DAB ar draws y DU.”

Meddai Laurence Harrison, Cyfarwyddwr Digital Radio UK: “Mae hwn yn ddiwrnod mawr i radio ac i Ogledd Orllewin Cymru. O heddiw ymlaen, bydd 100,000 o wrandawyr yn gallu derbyn eu hoff orsafoedd lleol a chenedlaethol ar DAB am y tro cyntaf.”

Dywedodd Steve Austins, Golygydd BBC Radio Wales: “Rydym yn falch y bydd Radio Wales bellach ar gael i rai ardaloedd o ogledd-orllewin Cymru ar DAB. Rydym yn awyddus i gymaint o bobl glywed ein gwasanaeth ag sy’n bosibl, felly mae hyn yn gam cadarnhaol ymlaen.”

Dywedodd Betsan Powys, Golygydd BBC Radio Cymru: “Mae hyn yn newyddion da i wrandawyr a fydd nawr yn gallu gwrando ar Radio Cymru ar DAB yn yr ardaloedd a wasanaethir, ac yn amlwg yn gam i’r cyfeiriad cywir yn y rhan hon o Gymru. Mae DAB yn opsiwn pwysig er mwyn gwrando ac rydym yn gwybod bod ein gwrandawyr yn gwerthfawrogi cael y dewis i wrando ar yr orsaf genedlaethol Gymraeg ar gymaint o lwyfannau ag sy’n bosibl.”

Meddai Mel Booth, Rheolwr Gyfarwyddwr Global Wales: “Rydym yn edrych ymlaen i ddod a Capital a Smooth i radio digidol yng Ngogledd Orllewin Cymru. Rydym yn gwybod bod ein gwrandawyr yn caru’r gerddoriaeth wych rydym yn ei chwarae, ac yn awr gallant wrando mewn ansawdd digidol.”

Dywedodd Jason Bryant, Cadeirydd Gweithredol Nation Radio a Nation Hits!: “Rydym yn falch o ddod a Nation Radio a’i chwaer orsaf Nation Hits! i wrandawyr yng Ngogledd Orllewin Cymru. Mae pob gwasanaeth yn ychwanegu amrywiaeth cerddorol go iawn a dewis ychwanegol ar gyfer gwrandawyr a, gyda’r ddwy orsaf yn tyfu’n gyflym, rydym yn falch o gael yr unig orsafoedd masnachol sydd ar gael ar y llwyfan radio digidol DAB ar draws Cymru.”

Coverage:

New Multiplexes in North Yorkshire and North Wales

It’s been a busy time for MuxCo as we’ve been preparing for the launch of our multiplexes in North Yorkshire and North Wales.

Our North Wales multiplex is currently testing in preparation for its launch tomorrow (Friday 12th December) at the Galeri Caernarfon. We’re pleased that BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, Nation Radio, Nation Hits, Capital and Smooth will be broadcast from our initial two transmitters.

The North Yorkshire multiplex has started limited tests, which will be ratcheting up in the coming days before the multiplex officially launches next Wednesday (17th December) from York Racecourse. Harry Gration from Look North and Christine Talbot from Calendar will join the station teams from Stray FM, Minster FM and BBC Radio York for the switch-on.

November Planning Meeting

Planning Meeting

A blurry camera phone picture of Gregory from MuxCo (left) and David Peters from Arqiva (right) at today’s planning meeting.

We have these catch-ups every month to review current projects and to plan further multiplexes. In the picture, Gregory is looking at one of many potential options for the North West Wales multiplex.

This month the big topics were the progress on Gloucester’s next two transmitters, our Bromsgrove transmitter for Herefordshire & Worcestershire and installations for Surrey. Surrey is looking good at the moment and we’re in the process of rolling out contingencies in Gloucestershire and H&W as we continue to be let down by BT. All should hopefully be on this year, before Arqiva’s network freeze at Christmas.

Looking to future multiplexes we spent some time exploring the various options for North Wales and the cost-implications of decisions in Somerset.

Cloud 9

So, our final application has been awarded – North Wales! This completes the first round of MuxCo applications and overall we’re very happy. Whilst HBB, Northants and especially Oxford would have fitted in beautifully to the MuxCo family, you can’t have everything can you?

We’re now getting on and building these things so we can get the services on air.