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Newry community radio station IUR-fm has launched plans to bring Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) to the South Ulster region.
The local service currently broadcasts locally on 101.4FM and is now the only radio station based in the city. The station hopes to launch a Small Scale DAB Mux in the region which will increase the number of local services available to the listening public.
Sean Og Mac Braoin from IUR-fm explained what a SSDAB Mux is “Traditionally every radio station had its own transmitters and aerials, but DAB is different. With DAB the Mux operator maintains the transmitters and aerials and then up to 25 different radio stations piggy-back on the Mux. It’s a bit like instead of stations driving their own car they all get on a bus together and share the cost”.
The new DAB Mux can broadcast up to 25 different stations and will be operated on a not-for-profit basis. The station already has more than 10 services signed up to broadcast on the new Mux and is looking to hear from other groups and people who would like to have radio station on the Mux.
Commenting on the range of services that are already signed up to their Mux, he said “SSDAB offers the opportunity for a raft of new local services to meet all tastes. We already have a growing number of services signed up with more than a dozen services for Youth, Senior Citizens, Christian, Country Music and Rock signed up as well as a station dedicated to short term broadcasting meaning that local festivals and events can have their very own station for a short period corresponding to their festival.
Mac Braoin added "Only IUR-fm has the experience locally to deliver on this wonderful opportunity to expand the range of local and community radio services in the region.”
IUR-fm hopes that the new SSDAB Stations will be on-air by late 2023 and anyone interested in finding out more can email newryssdab@email.com.
