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Sabras Radio awarded space in Northamptonshire

Leicester based Sabras Radio has won space to broadcast its service to Northamptonshire, as part of an effort to boost local digital output in the area.

The deal is a part of media regulator Ofcom’s strategy to develop DAB coverage for services in those parts of the country not already served.

The 12-year licence today has been won by NOWdigital, which is a subsidiary of GCap Media (Sabras Radio holds a 20% share in NOWdigital). Ofcom says the area could cover an adult population of around 500,000.

As well as Sabras Radio, which will cater for the Asian community in Northamptonshire, eight other commercial services will also launch. The stations finalised are Northants 96, Connect FM, Gold, Traffic Radio, Xfm, UCB and Jack FM. BBC Radio Northampton will also feature.

Ofcom is hoping this local licensing process will lead to a significant expansion in digital radio services throughout the UK. NOWdigital�۪s licence was up against rival MuxCo Ltd. MuxCo Ltd�۪s list of radio stations did not include any Asian radio stations.

Sabras Radio, has been broadcasting in Leicester since its launch twelve years ago in 1995. It has been available on AM and on DAB digital radio. Two years ago, the station spread its wings to London via Spectrum Radio on 558AM. Today’s news means that its carriage on the Northamptonshire multiplex is as a result of an ongoing development to expand Sabras’ reach throughout the UK.