Sound Digital

Following the collapse of the winning 4 Digital Group bid for the second national ensemble in 2008, the capacity was re-advertised in 2014.{{Cite web|url = http://www.a516digital.com/2015/01/two-horse-race-for-digital-2-dab.html|title = Two horse race for Digital 2 DAB multiplex|date = 2015-01-29|access-date = 2016-02-29|publisher = a516digital}} Two bids were received, Sound Digital and Listen2Digital, a consortium run by Orion Media and Babcock International Group.{{Cite web|url = http://radiotoday.co.uk/2015/01/orion-media-partners-with-babcock-for-d2-bid/|title = Orion Media partners with Babcock for D2 bid|date = 2015-01-29|access-date = 2016-02-29|website=Radio Today|last = Martin|first = Roy}} On 27 March 2015, Sound Digital were selected as the winner.{{Cite web|url = http://radiotoday.co.uk/2015/03/sound-digital-wins-national-dab-multiplex/|title = Sound Digital wins national DAB multiplex|date = 2015-03-27|access-date = 2016-02-29|website=Radio Today|last = Martin|first = Roy}}

Between award and launch, Premier Praise and Panjab Radio, a Listen2Digital station, joined the line up along with DAB+ stations Fun Kids and Magic Chilled.{{cite web|last1=Martin|first1=Roy|title=Fun Kids to go national as DAB+ radio service|url=http://radiotoday.co.uk/2016/02/fun-kids-to-go-national-as-dab-radio-service/|website=Radio Today|date=3 February 2016 |access-date=1 March 2016}} Also, BMR and UCB Inspirational were rebranded Awesome Radio and UCB2 respectively and TalkBusiness was replaced by Listen2Digital station Share Radio.{{cite web|title=Sound Digital: full station list announced|url=http://www.a516digital.com/2016/02/sound-digital-full-station-list.html|website=a516digital|access-date=1 March 2016}}

Test transmission commenced in February 2016, which consisted of Sound Waves and Sound Waves+ for DAB and DAB+ respectively.{{cite web|title=Sound Digital tests: See how hi-tech your digital radio is|url=http://www.a516digital.com/2016/02/sound-digital-tests-see-how-hi-tech.html|website=a516digital|access-date=29 February 2016}} An official launch took place on 29 February, with the majority of stations launching on this date and the remainder following over the next month.

On 15 May 2018, Sound Digital announced the planned introduction of additional 19 transmitters{{snd}}to improve coverage in the South West, East Anglia, Wales and North of Scotland{{snd}}increasing the multiplex's coverage to 83%, adding nearly 4 million new listeners in more than 1.6m new households.{{Cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2018/05/sdl-to-extend-coverage-of-national-dab-mux/|title=SDL to extend coverage of national DAB mux|date=2018-05-15|access-date=2020-05-16|website=Radio Today|last=Martin|first=Roy}}

In September 2023 Bauer announced that Mellow Magic, Planet Rock, Scala Radio, Absolute 80s and Absolute 90s would transition to DAB+ from that October, freeing up capacity for the addition of Absolute Radio Country, Absolute Classic Rock, Magic Chilled, Magic Soul, Magic at the Musicals, Heat Radio and Kerrang! Radio to the Sound Digital lineup.[https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/news/absolute-radio-country-and-absolute-classic-rock-go-national-on-dab/ Bauer Media, 2023-09-26]

Services previously carried on the multiplex include:

• Awesome Radio - never fully launched, promo barker ran from launch of SDL until removal in August 2017
• Capital (Taylor's Version) - temporary station during summer 2024 to coincide with the Eras Tour
• Capital Chill{{Cite web |date=2023-02-13| title=Global launches Capital Chill radio station on national DAB |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2023/02/global-launches-capital-chill-radio-station-on-national-dab/ |access-date=2023-02-13|website=RadioToday|language=en-GB}} - added 13 February 2023, removed 12 September 2024 to make way for Capital Anthems
• Fun Kids - removed 31 August 2023. However the station continues to broadcast on local DAB multiplexes in selected areas of the UK.
• Heat Radio - removed February 2019; re-added as a DAB+ station along with other Bauer stations 16 October 2023; removed again 16 September 2024 to make way for Kisstory R&B
• JACK Radio - replaced by Union JACK Dance in December 2020
• Kisstory - moved to Digital One in February 2019
• Love Sport - removed late 2020
• Panjab Radio - moved to local DAB in December 2019
• Share Radio - moved to online-only service May 2017
• UCB2 - moved to Digital One as a DAB+ service in March 2022
• Union JACK - launched on 9 September 2016, removed on 24 February 2022
• Union JACK Dance - launched on 10 December 2020, removed on 24 February 2022
• Union JACK Rock - launched on 10 December 2020, removed on 24 February 2022

• Digital One

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{{Media in the United Kingdom|radio}}

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Category:Digital audio broadcasting multiplexes

Category:Radio stations established in 2016

Category:2016 establishments in the United Kingdom