BBC may put stations on Digital One network

The BBC is considering plans to put one or more of its digital radio stations onto the Digital One national network in a bid to boost the struggling service.

BBC Asian Network is one of the stations that is thought to be in line for filling up some of the vacant capacity on the commercial digital audio broadcasting (DAB) multiplex.

The Global Radio and Arqiva co-owned service, which currently carries Classic FM, TalkSport, Absolute Radio and Planet Rock, has room for up to 10 stations.

If the Digital One move goes ahead, the BBC would also free up some space on its own national digital radio multiplex, which would give it the opportunity to launch more stations of improve the sound quality on existing services.

The move is understood to be part of wider plans to secure the future of DAB, which has been under threat since Channel 4 pulled out of the second national commercial multiplex, owned by 4Digital Group, in October (see Channel 4 Abandons Digital Radio Venture).

Yesterday, the remaining minority shareholders of 4Digital Group announced plans to dissolve the digital radio business and hand the licence back to Ofcom (see Board pull plug on 4DG).

A BBC spokesperson said: “We are working with the whole industry on a number of possible options for the future growth of DAB and will make a statement as soon as we have firm news.”

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