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With the current frequency allocations, there is no room for any more London-wide radio stations on FM. However, with a
little re-planning there is scope to introduce one or two new stations. Though, this would reduce the number of
frequencies available for community radio. Four different options are presented below. Ofcom is now investigating this as
described at the end of the page. Option 1 - 98.0 This places the main transmitter at Croydon or Crystal Palace on 98.0. This takes advantage of Radio 1 Rowridge being 100 kHz higher than in the corresponding R2, R3 and R4 sub-bands. Interference from R1 Sutton Coldfield should not be a problem as it is screened by the Chiltern Hills and a 100 kHz separation is used for Kiss London and Classic FM Sutton Coldfield. Interference from a high power French transmitter at Lille on 98.0 will limit coverage, however this is partially screened by the North Downs and the new London service might be able to use a higher power than the other London services to compensate. The coverage area will probably be smaller than most of the other London FM stations, but should still be large enough to be feasible. BBC Three Counties Radio from High Wycombe must change frequency from 98.0 to 105.1 and the Radio 1 filler at Kenley from 98.0 to 99.4/5/6 in order to accommodate the new service. Interference from France is likely to be greatest in North and/or North East London. Up to 2 fillers could be added on 99.2 and 99.5. Option 2 - 106.7 The main transmitter at Croydon or Crystal Palace would use 106.7. This would provide better reception for the new station than Option 1, but would require a number of small stations to move to the BBC National bands, incurring significant marketing costs and limiting the space available for community radio. The following stations must move:
Option 3 - 90.4 and 92.6, from a BBC national re-plan The four BBC national sub-bands could be re-planned to take advantage of the new transmitter synchronisation technology to bring the relay transmitters closer to the main transmitters and to each other. However, it would be very difficult to move the main transmitters due to international treaty. The following plan proposes synchronising the Guildford and Newbury fillers with the Oxford main transmitter. Guildford would move from 97.7, 88.1, 90.3 and 92.5 to 99.3, 89.7, 91.9 and 92.1. Newbury would move to 97.8, 88.2, 90.4 and 92.6 to 97.8, 89.3, 91.5 and 93.7. If the BBC wishes to renew its plans for an Andover relay, this could use the old Newbury or Guildford frequencies. New London-wide stations could be accommodated on 90.4 and 92.6. 88.2 can not be used due to the 10.6 MHz intermediate frequency relationship with Radio 1 on 98.8. Instead, the 88.1 allocation at Guildford could be retained for a new local station there. In the Radio 1 band, 97.8 could not be used for a London-wide station due to interference with Chiltern on 97.6. Either a lower power London station could be accommodated (with R1 Newbury moving to 97.7) or 97.7 could be retained at Guildford for relocating the Eagle or Southern Counties to free-up their old frequency for a new station elsewhere in the South East. If new London stations on 90.4 and 92.6 interfere with Radios 3 and 4 at Manningtree for South Suffolk and NE Essex on 90.3 and 92.5, the Manningtree transmitters could be moved to 91.6 and 93.8. Similarly, if they interfere with Radios 3 and 4 at Kenley on 90.6 and 92.8, these could be moved to 92.0/1/2 and 94.2/3/4. There is also a need to use the BBC national sub-bands in the London area to find space for community radio and improve BBC local radio reception in Hertfordshire and Harlow. This may limit the above proposal. For example, the new Three Counties Radio transmitter on 90.4 would have to move and there may not be a suitable frequency. Option 4 - 87.6 Ofcom reserves the 87.6-88.0 sub-band for short-terms restricted service licenses (RSLs). This is done partly to make frequency planning easier. However, 87.6 is the only frequency which could be used for a new London-wide station without moving any permanent stations to other frequencies. With some effort, Ofcom could identify new short-term RSL frequencies within the BBC sub-bands. Ofcom It has been reported in The Radio Magazine that Ofcom is considering introducing up to three new London-wide FM stations, albeit with reduced coverage compared to the current stations. It is considering replanning 106.6-107.9 in the London area, making use of 87.6-87.9 and 101.6 and possibly consolidating the multiple Time and Choice stations on one frequency each. Using 101.6 for a London wide station would require KM-FM on 101.6 and Ten 17 to move. It is 10.6 MHz away from Radio 3 from Crystal Palace, which is usually avoided due to intermediate frequency interference with poorly designed receivers. There is also incoming interference from Classic FM and the need to limit outgoing interference to Delta in Four Marks and Hindhead and to Classic FM in Suffolk. Therefore, 101.6 might be better for relocating one of the smaller stations. Also, 87.7 and 87.9 are 10.8 and 10.6 MHz away from Radio 1 Crystal Palace. 87.8 is 10.7 MHz away from Radio 1 Crystal Palace, so won't be used in London, but could be used immediately outside. |
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| Yorkshire East Midlands Suffolk Glasgow & Edinburgh AM stations Ireland FM Ireland AM Future stations archive index Features index |