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Digital One
Licensed areaUnited Kingdom
Frequency
  • 11D (222.064 MHz)
    • England
    • Wales
    • Northern Ireland
  • 12A (223.936 MHz)
    • Scotland
Air date15 November 1999 (1999-11-15)
OwnerArqiva

Digital One is a national commercial digital radio multiplex in the United Kingdom, owned by Arqiva. As of March 2010, the multiplex covered more than 90% of the population[1] from 137 transmitters.[2] Coverage was extended to Northern Ireland in July 2013. It contains a list of DAB and DAB+ radio stations operated by Bauer Media Audio UK, Global Media & Entertainment and News Broadcasting.

Stations carried

[edit]

DAB

Service Service ID Bit rate Audio channels Description DAB launch date Analogue availability
LBC C0C2 64 kbit/s Mono A national talk and phone-in station owned by Global Radio and also broadcast on 97.3 MHz in London. 11 February 2014[3] 97.3 MHz (London)
Talksport C0C0 64 kbit/s Mono LSF Sport and talk 15 November 1999 1053, 1071, 1089 kHz

DAB+

Service Service ID Bit rate Audio channels Description DAB launch date Analogue availability
Absolute Radio C1C0 40 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ Adult alternative music, carries London output during any programme splits, but with national news and advertising 15 November 1999 1197 kHz, 1215 kHz, 1242 kHz, 1260 kHz (closed in January 2023)
Capital Dance C9ED 40 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ Dance 1 October 2020
Capital UK C5DA 40 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ Contemporary Hit Radio 12 September 2016 95.8–107.6 MHz
Capital XTRA C37B 40 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ Urban and Dance Music. Formerly branded as Choice FM; relaunched and renamed to coincide with its national DAB availability 7 October 2013 96.9 and 107.1 MHz (London)
Classic FM C2A1 64 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ Classical music 15 November 1999 99.9–101.9 MHz
GB News Radio C4F0 24 kbit/s Mono DAB+ Talk Radio (Right-Wing News) 4 January 2022
Gold UK CEE8 40 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ Classic hits. Previously transmitted on local AM and DAB prior to D1 addition, having evolved from Capital Gold (1988). 10 June 2019
Greatest Hits Radio 70s C243 32 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ 1970s music 31 March 2025
Greatest Hits Radio 80s C244 32 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ 1980s music 31 March 2025
Heart Dance CFE8 40 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ Rhythmic adult contemporary 21 June 2019
Heart UK CFD1 40 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ Adult contemporary music 29 February 2016 96–107 MHz
Heart 70s CAE9 32 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ 1970s music 30 August 2019
Heart 80s[4] C1DC 40 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ 1980s music 14 March 2017
Heart 90s CBE9 40 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ 1990s music 29 August 2019
Heart 00s C9F3 40 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ 2000s music 20 May 2022
Hits Radio 90s C245 40 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ 1990s music 31 March 2025
Hits Radio 00s C246 40 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ 2000s music 31 March 2025
Kiss UK C5C0 40 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ A London-based station specialising in hip hop, R&B, urban and electronic dance music owned by Bauer Radio. Also broadcast on FM in London, South Wales and the Severn Estuary, and East Anglia; all frequencies including D1 now share programme content 27 December 2012 97.2, 100, 101 and 106.1 MHz

(closed in September 2024)

Kisstory CFE6 40 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ Old Skool & Anthems. Owned by Bauer Radio as a sibling to Kiss FM UK. Was broadcast on Sound Digital prior to D1 addition. 11 February 2019[5]
LBC News C8EA 32 kbit/s Mono DAB+ 24-hour rolling news station with updates every 20 minutes. 28 October 2019 1152 kHz (London)
Magic C0C6 40 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ Melodic soft adult contemporary hits. 1 January 2015 105.4 MHz (London)
Radio X C4CD 40 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ Rock station primarily playing alternative and indie music. Previously broadcast in mono on DAB from launch until moving to DAB+ on 25 October 2019. 21 September 2015 104.9 MHz (London)

97.7 MHz (Manchester)

Smooth Chill C1C3 32 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ Chill out, ambient and trip-hop music. 8 April 2020 —
Smooth Relax C4FB 32 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ Relaxing melodic hits. 8 January 2024
Smooth UK C6C0 40 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ Melodic hits from the past five decades. 12 March 2020 96.4–108.0 MHz
UCB 1 C4CA 24 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ Christian music 1 December 2009[6][7] —
UCB 2 CBD8 32 kbit/s Stereo DAB+ Christian music

History

[edit]

On 24 March 1998, the Radio Authority advertised for the first national ensemble to be broadcast on DAB, with the three Independent National Radio services on FM and medium wave required to be included in the ensemble - Classic FM, Talk Radio UK (now Talksport) and Virgin Radio (now Absolute Radio).[8] The licence was awarded to the sole applicant, GWR Group and NTL Broadcast to form Digital One.[9] The original licence application included the following stations:[10]

Digital One Ltd (original application)
Classic FM Classical music GWR (now part of Global Radio)
Classic Gold Rock Rock music NTL
Club dance Dance music TBA
Plays, books and music Comedy, drama and serials TBA
Rolling news service Rolling news ITN
Soft AC Female contemporary music TBA
Sports channel Live sports and comment Talk Radio UK
Talk Radio (now Talksport) Talk radio Talk Radio UK (now owned by Wireless Group)
Teen and chart hits Pop and dance music GWR
Virgin Radio (now Absolute Radio) Complementary rock music SMG plc (station is now owned by Bauer Media)

Digital One was due to launch on 1 October 1999,[11] but this was postponed until 15 November 1999,[12] when it started broadcasting at 1:00 pm.[13] It was officially opened by Mel C.[14]

The "Classic Gold Rock" service eventually went on air as Planet Rock, which remains on air, having migrated from D1 to the Sound Digital multiplex in 2016; it is, however, the only one of the D1 launch stations (bar the INR simulcasts) still to be broadcasting as of 2017, and is also the longest-established DAB-first service in UK national radio, having been a digital-only service until 2013, when new owner Bauer put PR on their 105.2 FM frequency in the West Midlands (previously Kerrang! Radio); the FM berth was turned over to Absolute Radio in September 2015, leaving Planet Rock as a digital-only service once again. The "plays, books and music" service went on air as Oneword. The "Teen & Chart Hits" service became Core, and the "Soft AC" service – which was ultimately provided by the then Capital Radio Group (now part of Global Radio) was launched as Life (later known as Capital Life). The "Sports Channel" proposal was dropped as a separate entity and instead combined with Talk Radio in 2000 to form the current Talksport as broadcast on AM and DAB. ITN's rolling news service ultimately went on air as part of the multiplex, later joined by a business news service provided by Bloomberg. "Club Dance", however, never made it to air. The space released by the absence of the Club Dance and Sports Channel services from the eventual lineup was used to allow the Oneword service to end at midnight rather than the proposed 7pm, and also freed up a slot for a melodic easy-listening music service aimed at an older audience, the Saga-operated PrimeTime Radio.[citation needed]

After the closure of PrimeTime Radio in 2006, the original licence was amended to allow the launch of a new classic and contemporary jazz service, TheJazz which was launched on 25 December 2006, before 31 December 2006 deadline set in the licence amendment.[15]

On 11 February 2008 GCap announced that it was selling its interest in Digital One to Arqiva and that "non-core" DAB stations Planet Rock and TheJazz would be closing by the end of March 2008. Whilst TheJazz ceased broadcasting at midnight on 30 April 2008, Planet Rock was sold off and remains on air. GCap also closed down their two other D1-only stations, Core and Capital Life, prior to GCap being taken over later in 2008 by Global Radio.[citation needed]

Former services

[edit]

Services previously carried on the multiplex include:

  • Smooth Radio Christmas – festive music service, ran from 1 November until 27 December 2011[16] and operated again as a pop-up in Nov/Dec 2012, 2014 and 2015 (due to the launch of Capital Xtra there was not space for the service in 2013)
  • Absolute Radio 80s – 1980s music service. Transferred to the Sound Digital multiplex on 29 February 2016.
  • Absolute Radio 90s – 1990s music service. Moved onto Digital One from 2010 – initially sharing a slot with Absolute Radio Extra – having previously been provided on local DAB; returned to local-layer DAB in January 2015 so that its capacity could go towards the addition of Magic to Digital One. Absolute Radio 90s returned to Digital One during 2018 (replacing Magic Christmas), before migrating across to Sound Digital in February 2019, as part of a wider reorganisation of Bauer's space across national and local DAB, ahead of the launch of Scala Radio on SDL in March.
  • Planet Rock – Classic rock music station. Transferred to the Sound Digital multiplex on 29 February 2016.
  • Smooth Radio – Easy listening service relaunched in 2010 as national network; local content on local/regional FM frequencies was replaced with network output also broadcast nationally on Digital One. New owners reintroduced local content on local FM/DAB in March 2014 and withdrew Smooth from Digital One in November 2014.
  • NME Radio (ceased on 12 July 2010[17])
  • Panjab Radio (temporary service, ceased on 31 May 2010)
  • Fun Kids (temporary service, ceased on 3 October 2009)
  • Birdsong (ceased on 1 June 2009, replaced by Amazing Radio)
  • TheJazz (ceased on 31 March 2008)
  • Capital Life (ceased on 31 March 2008)[18]
  • Core (ceased on 11 January 2008,[18] immediately replaced by BFBS Radio)
  • Oneword (ceased on 11 January 2008[19] because of financial problems, replaced by Birdsong – see the section below)
  • Primetime (ceased on 24 May 2006, replaced by theJazz on 25 December 2006)
  • D1 Temp (ceased on 9 June 2005 – see the section below)
  • Bloomberg (ceased on 6 December 2003, replaced by D1 Temp)
  • ITN (ceased on 1 July 2003)
  • Smooth Radio 70s (ceased on 6 October 2013)
  • TeamRock SID C0C1 (started on 1 May 2013, ceased on 1 July 2015)
  • Premier Christian Radio (started on 21 September 2009, transferred to the Sound Digital multiplex on 29 February 2016)
  • BFBS Radio – following an initial three-month trial service (replacing Core), which ended on 31 March 2008, test transmissions for a permanent service began on 17 April 2009 and the station officially launched as a full-time service on Digital One at 07:00 on 20 April 2009. The station was withdrawn from Digital One on 6 March 2017; broadcasts of BFBS services on other platforms continue.
  • Heart Extra and Smooth Extra – these stations played automated music during the daytime, simulcasting the breakfast and evening/night programmes of Heart London and Smooth London respectively. Smooth Extra launched 27 December 2014, following the removal of Smooth Radio (2010) from Digital One (Smooth Christmas had used the slot in November/December), with Heart Extra following in February 2016 in tandem with the migration of several stations from Digital One to Sound Digital. Heart Extra and Smooth Extra converted from mono DAB to stereo DAB+ in 2019, and closed on 12 March 2020, replaced by the national Heart UK and Smooth UK feeds (already used on other national platforms such as TV)[20] The Extra stations' broadcast slots on satellite TV had earlier been switched over to Heart 80s and Heart Dance respectively.

In addition to the audio services listed above a number of data services, short lived temporary audio services, and mobile video channels have been broadcast on this multiplex.

Birdsong

[edit]
Main article: Birdsong (radio channel)

Birdsong was a temporary transmission of a continuously looping recording of bird song.[citation needed]

When the magazine-format digital radio station Oneword ceased in January 2008, the birdsong audio returned to the multiplex on the Oneword channel and the service name of the DAB channel changed to "Birdsong", until Amazing Radio launched on 1 June 2009.[21]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Digital One

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Digital One is a national commercial (DAB) multiplex in the , serving as a primary platform for commercial services across the country. Owned and operated by , it was launched on 15 November 1999 as the UK's first such multiplex, initially simulcasting three existing analogue stations before expanding to a broader lineup. The service reaches over 90% of UK households via more than 160 transmitter sites, enabling widespread access to digital radio programming. The multiplex broadcasts 32 stations (as of November 2025), encompassing a wide array of genres including , , , and . Notable stations include Absolute Radio for , Capital UK for contemporary hits, Classic FM for classical, LBC for and talk, and talkSPORT for coverage, alongside others like UCB 1 and UCB 2 for Christian programming. Several stations employ DAB+ technology, which provides improved audio quality and greater efficiency compared to standard DAB. This diverse portfolio has positioned Digital One as a cornerstone of commercial radio, supporting the ongoing shift from analogue to in the . Arqiva's management of Digital One builds on its earlier role in deploying the BBC's national DAB network in , marking a significant in the company's broadcast infrastructure expertise. The multiplex's national scope and commercial focus distinguish it from regional or alternatives, fostering and innovation in delivery.

Overview

Introduction

Digital One is the primary national commercial (DAB) multiplex in the , operated by and distinct from the BBC's separate national multiplex that carries stations. As a multiplex, it aggregates and transmits multiple services over a single frequency block, enabling efficient nationwide distribution of commercial content. Launched on 15 November 1999, Digital One marked the debut of the UK's first national commercial DAB service, expanding options beyond the BBC's offerings that had begun trials earlier in the decade. This launch represented a pivotal step in the commercialization of , introducing a platform dedicated to advertiser-supported in the emerging DAB ecosystem. In its role, Digital One provides listeners with diverse commercial formats, including , classical, , and talk programming, thereby offering alternatives to public broadcasters and fostering competition in the audio market. It carries key stations such as and Classic FM, contributing to the variety available on DAB receivers. As of , Digital One continues to operate actively, with its licence renewed until 2035, supporting the UK's ongoing transition toward a digital-only radio landscape where DAB listening now dominates over analogue formats. This endurance underscores its foundational position amid government efforts to phase out FM services by the early .

Ownership and Coverage

Digital One was established in 1998 as a between GWR Group and NTL Broadcast to operate the UK's national commercial (DAB) multiplex. Ownership subsequently passed to Global Radio following its acquisition of GWR Group, with Global holding a 63% stake by the mid-2000s. In April 2009, announced its acquisition of Global's majority interest in Digital One, completing the purchase in July 2009 to become the full owner. Arqiva, a prominent UK-based provider of broadcast and communications , has managed the Digital One multiplex since the acquisition, handling transmission operations, capacity allocation, and network maintenance as the licensed operator. This role positions Arqiva as a key enabler of national commercial radio, supporting the delivery of multiple stations through its extensive portfolio, which includes over 1,500 transmission sites across the country. The Digital One network reaches over 90% of the population via a transmitter network comprising over 160 sites, ensuring widespread availability of its services. Coverage expanded to in July 2013 through additional transmitters at locations such as Divis and Brougher Mountain, bringing national commercial DAB to the region for the first time. The multiplex utilizes frequency block 11D (222.064 MHz) for , , and , and block 12A (223.936 MHz) for , enabling a configuration for consistent national reception.

Current Services

Stations Carried

Digital One's national commercial multiplex broadcasts a diverse array of approximately 30 permanent radio stations as of November 2025, encompassing genres, , talk, sports, and niche content to serve broad audiences. The lineup features a strong emphasis on contemporary and nostalgic music formats, alongside speech-based services, with operators including Global (the largest contributor), Bauer Media Audio, and the Wireless Group. This selection reflects post-2020 industry consolidations, such as Bauer's expansion of its portfolio and Global's proliferation of decade-specific and genre-targeted stations, enhancing listener choice through targeted programming. As of November 2025, seasonal stations such as Heart (festive music, Global) and Magic Xmas (festive music, Bauer Media Audio) are also carried, available from late September to early January. The stations provide a mix of mainstream pop, rock, classical, urban, and , complemented by /talk and coverage. For instance, Global's Heart UK delivers adult contemporary hits, while Bauer's focuses on rock-oriented content. Many services utilize DAB+ technology for improved audio quality, with representative bit rates around 40 kbit/s in for music stations like Capital UK.
StationFormatOperator
Absolute RadioBauer Media Audio
Dance and Global
Capital UKGlobal
Urban and Global
Classic FMGlobal
GB News RadioNews and current affairs
Gold UK and Global
Greatest Hits Radio 70s musicBauer Media Audio
Greatest Hits Radio 80s musicBauer Media Audio
Heart DanceDance and upbeat popGlobal
Heart UKAdult contemporaryGlobal
Heart 70s musicGlobal
Heart 80s musicGlobal
Heart 90s1990s musicGlobal
Heart 00s2000s musicGlobal
Hits Radio 90s1990s musicBauer Media Audio
Hits Radio 00s2000s musicBauer Media Audio
KISS and danceBauer Media Audio
KISSTORYR&B, hip-hop, and dance classicsBauer Media Audio
LBCNews and talkGlobal
LBC NewsRolling newsGlobal
MagicAdult contemporary and soulBauer Media Audio
Radio XAlternative rockGlobal
Smooth ChillRelaxed and chilled musicGlobal
Smooth RelaxGlobal
Smooth UKSmooth jazz and adult hitsGlobal
talkSPORTSports news and commentaryWireless Group
UCB 1United Christian Broadcasters
UCB 2Christian talk and inspirationUnited Christian Broadcasters
This configuration ensures wide appeal, with music stations dominating to attract younger demographics, while speech services like and provide essential information and entertainment for diverse listeners.

Technical Specifications

Digital One utilizes the Eureka 147 (DAB) standard for its transmissions, incorporating both the original DAB format with MPEG Audio Layer II (MP2) encoding and the enhanced DAB+ format employing Plus (AAC+). This dual-standard approach supports audio bit rates from 24 kbit/s for mono speech services to 64 kbit/s for stereo music services, optimizing bandwidth usage while maintaining acceptable quality levels. The multiplex operates as a (SFN) with a total capacity of approximately 1.184 Mbit/s after error protection, enabling up to 15 services per ensemble depending on allocation. The ensemble structure includes the Main Service Channel (MSC) for carrying multiplexed audio, data, and program-associated data streams, alongside the Fast Information Channel (FIC) for service labeling, ensemble information, and support for mechanisms, allowing secure transmission of premium content if required. Transmission occurs across over 160 sites nationwide, utilizing (OFDM) modulation in (174–240 MHz) to mitigate multipath interference. Typical (ERP) at these sites is 10 kW, facilitating robust signal propagation and national coverage. Since the early 2010s, Digital One has progressively transitioned to DAB+ for select services, leveraging AAC+ compression to deliver equivalent or superior audio quality at reduced , thereby increasing overall multiplex efficiency and accommodating more stations without expanding spectrum usage. Notable conversions include Classic FM in 2013, several Global stations in 2019, and in March 2025, , , , and Magic Radio, marking a shift that enhances listener experience and operational sustainability.

Historical Development

Launch and Early Operations

Digital One was established through the awarding of the United Kingdom's first national commercial (DAB) multiplex licence by the Radio Authority in October 1998 to a comprising GWR Group (57%), NTL Broadcast (33%), and (10%). This sole applicant status reflected limited initial interest in the licence, which was advertised earlier that year to facilitate commercial competition with the BBC's existing digital offerings. The aimed to established national analogue stations while introducing new digital-exclusive services, positioning Digital One as a key player in transitioning UK radio to digital formats. The multiplex officially launched on 15 November 1999 at 1:00 pm, broadcasting from initial sites that covered approximately 69% of the population. At inception, it carried five stations: the simulcasts of Classic FM, (later rebranded as ), and (now ), alongside two new digital-only channels, Planet Rock focusing on and Core targeting contemporary pop audiences. The launch event, featuring member Mel C, marked the commercial sector's entry into DAB, four years after the BBC's national multiplex debut in September 1995. Early operations faced significant hurdles, including the scarcity and high cost of DAB receivers—basic home units priced at around £499 and car models at £400—resulting in fewer than 3,000 sets in circulation at launch. This limited adoption was compounded by competition from the BBC's established digital services, which had already built a head start in receiver compatibility and audience familiarity. Despite these challenges, Digital One pursued gradual expansion of its transmitter network to enhance national coverage, targeting 85% population reach within three years while investing in receiver affordability to stimulate growth.

Ownership Changes and Expansions

In the late , Digital One underwent significant ownership restructuring as part of broader corporate consolidations in the UK sector. Originally formed in 1998 as a between GWR Group (holding 57%), NTL Broadcast (33%), and (10%), the multiplex's ownership evolved through mergers: GWR merged with Capital Radio to create GCap Media in 2004, while NTL's broadcast operations were restructured following its 2006 merger into , eventually leading to the formation of in 2007 as the transmission infrastructure provider. On February 11, 2008, GCap announced the sale of its 63% stake in Digital One to , which already held a 37% minority interest, for a nominal sum; the transaction was completed in April 2009, making the sole owner and aligning multiplex operations more closely with transmission infrastructure management. This ownership shift occurred amid the UK's digital switchover initiatives, with providing regulatory oversight to ensure compliance with goals, including spectrum efficiency and coverage expansion. Digital One's national multiplex licence, initially awarded by the Radio Authority in 1998 for 12 years and renewed by in 2011 until November 2023, has been subject to Ofcom's renewal processes, emphasizing the promotion of adoption and competition; for instance, the licence was extended in 2022 until 2035 under legislative reforms, securing long-term stability without competitive re-advertisement. A key expansion milestone came in 2013, when Digital One extended its coverage to Northern Ireland for the first time, addressing a previous gap that limited national reach to approximately 80% of the UK population. Approved by Ofcom following a consultation, the rollout involved new transmitters providing indoor coverage to 74% of Northern Ireland households and 70% of the main road network, launching in July 2013 and introducing ten additional commercial stations to the region, thereby increasing overall UK coverage to over 90%. Since the 2009 ownership consolidation under , Digital One has experienced no major corporate transitions as of 2025, maintaining its focus on national-scale operations while indirectly supporting broader DAB ecosystem growth through Arqiva's involvement in small-scale DAB trials and infrastructure sharing, all under Ofcom's ongoing regulatory framework for evolution.

Discontinued Services

Former Stations

Digital One, the UK's primary national commercial DAB multiplex, has seen several stations discontinue their broadcasts over the years due to financial challenges, strategic shifts by owners, and capacity limitations on the platform. Early examples include PrimeTime Radio, which launched in October 2000 targeting listeners over 50 with music but ceased operations in May 2006 amid low audience figures and the station's inability to sustain viability in the nascent market. In 2008, the talk-focused Oneword station closed on 12 January after ongoing financial losses, with owner UBC Media citing insufficient advertising revenue and listener growth despite its niche appeal to book and speech content enthusiasts; the slot was left vacant before temporary fillers were introduced. Similarly, theJazz, a specialist service, ended broadcasting on 31 March 2008 as part of GCap Media's cost-cutting measures during a period of industry consolidation, freeing up space but highlighting early struggles for niche formats on Digital One. Later discontinuations reflected broader industry mergers and the 2016 launch of the competing multiplex. Jazz FM, which had been on Digital One since its 2003 relaunch, left the platform on 1 January 2014 to reduce costs and prioritize FM, local DAB in key areas like , and online streaming, maintaining its audience at around 500,000 despite the national DAB exit. Smooth Radio's national feed, introduced in 2010, was removed from Digital One on 24 February 2014 to allow Global Radio to reinstate local breakfast and drivetime shows on FM and regional multiplexes, aligning with Ofcom-approved format changes that emphasized localized content over a uniform national service. Planet Rock, a station, migrated to on 1 March 2016, seeking improved coverage (reaching 83% of the compared to Digital One's constraints) and stereo DAB+ transmission, as part of the new multiplex's launch that accommodated 19 additional services. In 2020, Global closed Heart Extra and Smooth Extra on 12 March, replacing them with the national Heart UK and Smooth UK services to consolidate programming. These exits were often driven by capacity constraints on Digital One's Block 12B spectrum, which limited bitrate and simultaneous services, prompting owners like Global and Bauer Media—following acquisitions such as Global's 2013 takeover of GMG Radio—to consolidate formats and shift to alternatives like FM relaunches or the higher-capacity . The resulting vacancies enabled new entrants, such as , which joined Digital One in 2015 to target urban music audiences nationally, capitalizing on freed slots amid growing demand for diverse programming.

Birdsong Interlude

Following the sudden closure of the Oneword digital radio station on 12 January 2008, Digital One introduced a temporary placeholder service known as Birdsong on the vacated slot within its national DAB multiplex. This service consisted of a continuously looping 25-minute recording of birdsong captured in a garden in , , originally produced in 1991 by engineer Quentin Howard as a test transmission ahead of Classic FM's launch. The primary purpose of Birdsong was to occupy the available capacity and maintain continuous on the multiplex, thereby preventing Digital One from losing the licensed slot under regulatory requirements for ongoing service provision. Broadcast daily from 6:00 a.m. to midnight, it served as a low-maintenance interim measure while Digital One sought a permanent replacement, utilizing minimal resources through its simple, automated mono audio transmission. Birdsong aired for approximately 18 months, from January 2008 until early June 2009, when it was replaced by Amazing Radio, a station dedicated to unsigned musicians. During its run, the service garnered a among listeners who appreciated its serene, nature-inspired ambiance, leading to public outcry and petitions upon its discontinuation; it has since become a quirky in the history of digital radio. The original recording was available online via the Digital One website until Autumn 2009.

References

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  8. https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/arqiva-secures-globals-share-digital-one-multiplex/922144
  9. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/consultations/7854-dcr-discussion/responses/arqiva.pdf
  10. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/consultations/uncategorised/8174-dab-coverage-planning/statement/secondary-documents/dab-coverage.pdf
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  12. https://www.astra2sat.com/british-radio/uk-digital-radio-bitrates-2/
  13. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2025/03/bauer-announces-new-spin-off-decades-stations-at-radiodays-europe/
  14. https://www.worlddab.org/dab/technical-specifications-list
  15. https://tech.ebu.ch/docs/techreview/trev_259-riley.pdf
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  29. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2013/04/digital-one-to-extend-to-northern-ireland/
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  31. https://radiotoday.ie/2013/07/10-new-dab-stations-for-northern-ireland/
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  38. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2020/03/smooth-extra-and-heart-extra-replaced-on-digital-one/
  39. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jan/19/digital-one-cuts-costs-for-radio-stations
  40. https://www.thedrum.com/news/global-takes-greater-slice-dab-digital-radio-space-and-adds-host-new-brands
  41. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jun/01/dab-birdsong-amazing-radio-unsigned-bands
  42. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/media/article/amazing-media-sparks-radio-revolution-hptfl8h5zfv
  43. https://garan.org/2008/01/11/birdsong-is-back/
  44. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jun/02/birdsong-radio-channel
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