6 Towns Radio to launch on Digital Radio in 2024

6 Towns Radio is set to launch on DAB in January 2024 following 13 years of broadcasting as an online-only radio station.

Currently based in Burslem, 6 Towns, which is entirely run by volunteers, has been broadcasting since 2010 and is one of the longer-running community stations in Stoke-on-Trent.

The Ofcom-licensed community station has helped numerous presenters to find their feet in the world of broadcasting with many previous volunteers' voices being heard on Local and National BBC stations as well as commercial stations up and down the country.

6 Towns Radio will now broaden its existing online reach with an estimated 300,000 local people across Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme able to access the station via their Digital Radios.

A station spokesperson said: “We’re all absolutely delighted to be able to announce the news that we’ll be available on DAB, it has been a long time coming and the hard work behind the scenes from all volunteers has meant we have got to this point.

“We’re very lucky that even though we’ve been an online-only station for 13 years, we have built a solid supporter and listener base who have been with us every step of the way and we’d like to thank them for their continued support.

“We’re proud of the area we’re from and proud of being a continued positive voice, this will continue and only grow bigger with the addition of Newcastle-under-Lyme to our listener base.

“We’d like to thank the team at Alternative Broadcast Company, their vision 8 years ago was something we knew we wanted to be a part of and without them, this wouldn’t be possible.”

The DAB transmission network in Stoke and Newcastle is operated by local non-profit, the Alternative Broadcast Company (ABC). Director, Steve Perry, welcomed the news saying: “We’re delighted that 6 Towns will be joining the other new stations broadcasting with us.

“As one of the most established local media ‘voices’ they’ve supported ABC since we started planning around 8 years ago. So, it’s great news that people will now also be able to hear their programming via DAB+ radios in cars, kitchens and workplaces as well as on the internet."

6 Towns Radio will now join a roster of new stations broadcasting across Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme thanks to ABC including Radio Caroline, Blue Sky Radio, xRhythms and Churnet Sound.