Sunrise Radio & Akash Radio partner-up for Leeds small-scale DAB service

Sunrise Radio (Yorkshire) and Akash Radio have officially partnered up to form Leeds Digital Media Limited. The new company has applied for the upcoming SSDAB multiplex operator’s licence and is reaching out to prospective programme service providers.

Media regulator, Ofcom announced the advertisement of Round One (25 areas) due to be awarded a Small-Scale Digital Radio (SSDAB) Multiplex. Leeds’ new SSDAB platform will reach some 450,000 adults in and around the city and the ambition is to provide an affordable long-term digital future for many existing broadcasters (community and commercial), as well as new entrants.

Usha Parmar, director of Sunrise Radio and Leeds Digital Media explains, “We are truly excited to be working on this with Akash Radio, bringing a new range of radio services to suit a wide range of formats.”

Gurmail Sahota, Director of Akash Radio and Leeds Digital Media said, “Having served the community via radio for the last 18 years with a combination of various Short Term RSLs and the last five years as Akash Radio broadcasting on MW, we look forward to working with Sunrise Radio and partners on this exciting project for Leeds.”

The award will take place early 2021 with deadlines for the application on 23rd November 2020.