Ofcom awards Ballymena DAB licence as experienced NI radio team plans wider local rollout

Ballymena is set for a major expansion in local broadcasting after Ofcom today ( Thursday, April 9) awarded a small-scale DAB multiplex licence for the area to NIDAB Limited, opening the door for a new generation of local, community and specialist digital radio services across the town and surrounding villages.

The decision is a significant boost for local media in Mid and East Antrim and could pave the way for around ten stereo digital radio stations, with capacity for more where the DAB+ standard is used.

Ofcom’s public application documents confirm the multiplex is designed to support multiple digital sound programme services on a single transmission platform.

For listeners in Ballymena, the award means a realistic prospect of new digital-only local radio services, community stations and niche music broadcasters becoming available on DAB radios in homes, cars and workplaces.

The regulator announced Ballymena as one of five new licence areas awarded across the UK, alongside Barnsley, Lincoln, South West Fife and South West Sussex, as part of its continuing national rollout of small-scale DAB technology.

Coverage area to include Ballymena and surrounding villages

One of the most important new details contained in the Ofcom application is the intended local coverage footprint.

Map showing expected coverage across the wider Ballymena area for newly awarded DAB multiplex license

NIDAB’s submission states the multiplex is designed to serve Ballymena town itself together with key surrounding communities including Cullybackey, Ahoghill, Broughshane and Kells-Connor.

The application notes that Ballymena currently does not have an FM community radio station, despite one previously being licensed which never launched.

That makes this award particularly significant, as it could create the first meaningful opportunity for locally focused digital community broadcasting in the area.

Who is behind NIDAB Limited?

The Ballymena licence is being led by a highly experienced consortium of broadcasting, engineering and telecoms figures with an established track record across Northern Ireland.

According to the Ofcom application, NIDAB Limited is a company limited by guarantee, with four key figures behind the business.

At the centre of the application is David Sloan, based in Stewartstown, County Tyrone, who is listed as chairman and director of Belfast FM and previously a founder and presenter with Mid 106 FM in Cookstown.

Also named as a director is Scott McClelland, based in Londonderry, who brings extensive technical and mast infrastructure expertise through Bluebox Broadband.

The third director is John Gartlan, based in Kilcurry, Dundalk, already a recognised figure in the DAB sector as a director of Ulstermux, the multiplex operator serving the Newry area.

The company secretary is Sean Óg Mac Braoin, who is already involved in Lagan SSDAB, the Greater Belfast and Lisburn multiplex, as well as Blast106 and Blast106 Digital.

Together, the group brings substantial expertise in community broadcasting, transmission engineering and digital multiplex rollout.

Existing radio licences and Northern Ireland footprint

This is not an isolated Ballymena-only project.

Several of the figures behind NIDAB are already involved in existing licensed radio services and multiplex operations across Northern Ireland, including:

• Belfast FM

• Blast106

• Blast106 Digital

• Lagan SSDAB

• Ulstermux (Newry)

• previously Mid 106 FM

NIDAB has also previously been awarded the Armagh small-scale DAB multiplex licence, confirming the consortium’s growing presence in Northern Ireland’s local digital radio landscape.

That broader footprint is likely to increase confidence that Ballymena can move relatively quickly from licence award to launch.

NI DAB also applied for a multiplex DAB license for the Coleraine area, but Ofcom did not award it at this stage of applications.

Likely station line-up and launch potential

While a final station line-up has not yet been formally confirmed, the multiplex structure means Ballymena could soon support a mix of:

• local community radio

• specialist music services

• digital-only talk and speech services

• pop-up event broadcasters

• faith and interest-led services

Given the involvement of operators already active in other Northern Ireland multiplexes, industry observers are likely to expect strong early interest from existing services seeking expansion into the Ballymena area.

Strong early support from programme providers

Just as importantly, the application suggests the multiplex may not be short of stations when it goes live.

The Ballymena multiplex already appears to have solid early backing from radio service providers, with the Ofcom application setting out clear demand from stations seeking carriage on the new platform.

NIDAB states that it has secured expressions of interest and letters of support from multiple prospective programme services.

Low startup cost and financial viability

Another notable detail in the public application is the modest estimated launch cost.

NIDAB puts the total initial setup cost at £3,897.50, including transmission equipment, antenna, computing hardware and Ofcom fees.

The relatively low figure is possible because the consortium already controls existing technical expertise and infrastructure, significantly reducing setup and staffing overheads.

The application also confirms that three director/member loans of £1,500 each have been put in place, giving £4,500 in startup funding.

What happens next

Attention will now turn to transmission planning, infrastructure activation and securing programme providers for launch.

Given the team’s existing experience in Armagh, Newry, Belfast and Lisburn, the Ballymena rollout is expected to progress relatively quickly.

Once live, it could significantly expand local listening choice across Ballymena and nearby villages, bringing a stronger local digital radio presence to the area.

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At a glance

• Ofcom has awarded Ballymena a new DAB multiplex licence

• The licence has been granted to NIDAB Limited

• Coverage includes Ballymena, Cullybackey, Ahoghill, Broughshane and Kells-Connor

• Around 10 stereo services can be carried

• More stations may be possible using DAB+

• The team includes figures behind Belfast FM, Blast106 and Ulstermux

• NIDAB has previously secured the Armagh licence

• Startup costs are estimated at £3,897.50

• Ballymena currently has no FM community station