Sound Digital confirms removal of Awesome Radio from DAB

The second national commercial DAB multiplex, Sound Digital, has confirmed the removal of Awesome Radio, owned by Asian Sound Radio.

It was revealed last week on BizAsiaLive.com that the station is no longer broadcasting and disappeared from radio sets. It now has been confirmed by Sound Digital that it had concerns over Awesome Radio’s loop audio (without presenters), which was being treated as a barker channel. After a number of discussions with Asian Sound Radio, Sound Digital decided to pull the plug on Awesome Radio.

Glyn Jones, of Arqiva Digital Radio, told Radio Today, “Following the switch on of the second national multiplex at the end of February 2016, all of the other new stations launched in full within six months. The station from Asian Sound, branded Awesome Radio, has been running a loop of audio without any presenters since then as a barker channel and we’ve been in discussion with them over the past few weeks about the future of their station.

“A full launch has been planned several times but it’s been repeatedly postponed. As a result of our discussions with Asian Sound, we’ve taken the Awesome Radio barker channel off air. Sound Digital will be making an announcement in due course about how the capacity will be used.”

Meanwhile, Shafat Ali from Asian Sound Radio told the publication that he was looking to focus on developing Asian Sound Radio’s brand in the North West and Yorkshire region.

Sound Digital currently have two slots available, after the exit of Share Radio in May 2017. Sunrise Radio and Panjab Radio are the only other two commercial Asian stations on national DAB, as well as the BBC Asian Network service.