Switch Scotland
Encyclopedia
Switch Scotland is a DAB digital radio multiplex broadcasting across Scotland
's Central Belt
, with its coverage area encompassing major population centres such as Edinburgh
and Glasgow
and the surrounding area. The service overlaps with local-level DAB multiplexes centred on particular cities and towns (such as Score Glasgow
and Score Edinburgh
), meaning that listeners in central Scotland are able to tune into three levels of coverage - national, regional and local services.
Stations carried on Switch Scotland include relays of local FM/MW services and also of stations only available in that area on DAB. Many of the DAB-only stations are relays of programmes from other areas: Gold, Xfm
and Heart
originate in London and Kerrang! Radio in Birmingham.
The Smooth Radio carried on this multiplex is the version available within Glasgow on FM; prior to Smooth Radio parent GMG Radio
taking over the former Saga 105.2
, the regional multiplex carried a relay of 102.2 Smooth Radio
from London, with Glasgow-based Saga on the Glasgow and Edinburgh local multiplexes. After the Saga-Smooth changeover, Smooth London on the regional multiplex gave way to the current relay of Glasgow's Smooth, and the ex-Saga slot on the local multiplexes was used by the GMG-owned jazzfm.com; in Glasgow this later became the new Jazz FM (UK), but in Edinburgh this slot has now been used to relay another GMG-owned Glasgow-based station, 96.3 Rock Radio
, instead.
Two more recent changes to services on this multiplex had both been actioned by Global Radio: the removal of rock station The Arrow
in favour of a relay of the London version of Gold, and the relaunch of Xfm Scotland as Galaxy (which resulted in a change to the DAB arrangement, which had been carrying Xfm Scotland and Yorkshire-based Galaxy Digital
, and changed to carrying Xfm London
and Galaxy Scotland
). Following the merger of Galaxy into the Capital network in January 2011, Galaxy Scotland was rebranded as Capital Scotland.
GMG Radio
added their classic rock service Real Radio XS
to the Central Scotland multiplex in September 2011; the station had previously broadcast as 106.1 Rock Radio and shared some programming with 96.3 Rock Radio
, based in Glasgow, which broadcasts on the Glasgow and Edinburgh local multiplexes; following the relaunch of the Manchester station as Real Radio XS, programme sharing ceased and the two stations essentially became separate entities (with GMG proposing to sell the Glasgow station).
BBC Radio Scotland
is not carried on this multiplex: it is instead carried on the local-level multiplexes.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
's Central Belt
Central Belt
The Central Belt of Scotland is a common term used to describe the area of highest population density within Scotland. Despite the name, it is not geographically central but is nevertheless situated at the 'waist' of Scotland on a conventional map and the term 'central' is used in many local...
, with its coverage area encompassing major population centres such as Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and the surrounding area. The service overlaps with local-level DAB multiplexes centred on particular cities and towns (such as Score Glasgow
Score Glasgow
Score Glasgow is a DAB digital radio broadcast multiplex covering the city of Glasgow and surrounding areas to the west of Scotland's central belt...
and Score Edinburgh
Score Edinburgh
Score Edinburgh is a DAB digital radio broadcast multiplex covering the city of Edinburgh and surrounding areas to the east of Scotland's central belt...
), meaning that listeners in central Scotland are able to tune into three levels of coverage - national, regional and local services.
Stations carried on Switch Scotland include relays of local FM/MW services and also of stations only available in that area on DAB. Many of the DAB-only stations are relays of programmes from other areas: Gold, Xfm
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
and Heart
Heart Network
Heart is a radio network of 17 adult contemporary independent local radio stations in central & southern England and north Wales. Each station broadcasts local breakfast and drive time shows and simulcasts network programming at all other times...
originate in London and Kerrang! Radio in Birmingham.
The Smooth Radio carried on this multiplex is the version available within Glasgow on FM; prior to Smooth Radio parent GMG Radio
GMG Radio
GMG Radio is the radio division of the Guardian Media Group. The group is based in Laser House, Salford Quays in Greater Manchester. The advertising division is in Old Trafford, Manchester. John Myers was the Chief Executive Officer, his deputy replaced him in April 2009...
taking over the former Saga 105.2
Saga 105.2 FM, Glasgow
Saga 105.2 FM was an independent local radio station in Glasgow, Scotland, part of the Saga Radio Group. From December 2005 it was also broadcast in the East of Scotland on DAB, serving Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians...
, the regional multiplex carried a relay of 102.2 Smooth Radio
102.2 Smooth Radio
102.2 Smooth Radio was an Independent Local Radio station for the Greater London area, which replaced 102.2 Smooth FM on 26 March 2007, launched by Gavin McCoy with Barbra Streisand's "A Star Is Born"...
from London, with Glasgow-based Saga on the Glasgow and Edinburgh local multiplexes. After the Saga-Smooth changeover, Smooth London on the regional multiplex gave way to the current relay of Glasgow's Smooth, and the ex-Saga slot on the local multiplexes was used by the GMG-owned jazzfm.com; in Glasgow this later became the new Jazz FM (UK), but in Edinburgh this slot has now been used to relay another GMG-owned Glasgow-based station, 96.3 Rock Radio
96.3 Rock Radio
96.3 Real Radio XS is a Scottish local radio station owned and operated by GMG Radio. It is based at Ballieston to the east of Glasgow and broadcasts to Renfrewshire, West Central Scotland and Central Scotland....
, instead.
Two more recent changes to services on this multiplex had both been actioned by Global Radio: the removal of rock station The Arrow
The Arrow (radio)
The Arrow is a British digital radio station playing pop and the softer end of rock music. It broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio . It is also broadcast on TalkTalk TV and streamed online...
in favour of a relay of the London version of Gold, and the relaunch of Xfm Scotland as Galaxy (which resulted in a change to the DAB arrangement, which had been carrying Xfm Scotland and Yorkshire-based Galaxy Digital
Galaxy Digital
Galaxy Digital was a radio station broadcasting through the digital platform across the United Kingdom and was owned by Global Radio. It primarily broadcast in areas where Galaxy was not represented on FM, such as London, Leicester, Nottingham, and Derbyshire...
, and changed to carrying Xfm London
Xfm London
Xfm London is a commercial radio station in the United Kingdom owned by Global Radio and broadcasts on 104.9 FM in London, on digital radio via 30 DAB multiplexes across the country, Sky, TalkTalk TV and Virgin Media....
and Galaxy Scotland
Galaxy Scotland
105-106 Capital is a regional radio station broadcasting to Scotland's Central Belt, an area surrounding the two cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and the kingdom of Fife...
). Following the merger of Galaxy into the Capital network in January 2011, Galaxy Scotland was rebranded as Capital Scotland.
GMG Radio
GMG Radio
GMG Radio is the radio division of the Guardian Media Group. The group is based in Laser House, Salford Quays in Greater Manchester. The advertising division is in Old Trafford, Manchester. John Myers was the Chief Executive Officer, his deputy replaced him in April 2009...
added their classic rock service Real Radio XS
Real Radio XS
106.1 Real Radio XS is a radio station based in Salford, Manchester, broadcasting a variety of peak-time news, rock music and talk output.-History:The station began test transmissions as 106.1 Rock Radio on FM on 10 April 2008...
to the Central Scotland multiplex in September 2011; the station had previously broadcast as 106.1 Rock Radio and shared some programming with 96.3 Rock Radio
96.3 Rock Radio
96.3 Real Radio XS is a Scottish local radio station owned and operated by GMG Radio. It is based at Ballieston to the east of Glasgow and broadcasts to Renfrewshire, West Central Scotland and Central Scotland....
, based in Glasgow, which broadcasts on the Glasgow and Edinburgh local multiplexes; following the relaunch of the Manchester station as Real Radio XS, programme sharing ceased and the two stations essentially became separate entities (with GMG proposing to sell the Glasgow station).
BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
is not carried on this multiplex: it is instead carried on the local-level multiplexes.
Transmitter sites
Switch Scotland currently broadcasts using block 11D (222.064 MHz) on the following sites:| Transmitter | kW | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Kirk o'Shotts Kirk o'Shotts transmitting station The Kirk o'Shotts transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications site at The Hirst which lies just outside the village of Salsburgh which is near the town of Shotts in North Lanarkshire central Scotland... |
1.88 | Glasgow & M8 corridor |
| Sergeant Law | 1 | Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, West Dumbarton & Western parts of Glasgow |
| Craigkelly | 0.78 | Edinburgh & Southern Fife |
| Earl's Hill | 0.74 | Stirling & Falkirk |
| Darvel | 0.5 | (Signal is mainly radiated northwards) |
Current line-up of services
The stations currently carried on Switch Scotland are:| Service | Service ID | Bit rate | Audio channels | Description | Analogue availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBC Radio nan Gaidheal BBC Radio nan Gàidheal BBC Radio nan Gàidheal is a British radio station, broadcasting in Scottish Gaelic. It is operated by the BBC as part of its portfolio of television and radio services broadcasting to Scotland.... |
C336 | 128 kbit/s | Joint stereo | BBC regional service | 103.5-105.0 MHz |
| Capital Scotland | C3AF | 128 kbit/s | Joint stereo | Contemporary pop station | 105.7, 106.1 MHz |
| Gold | CBCC | 128 kbit/s | Joint stereo | Golden oldies, networked from London | — |
| Heart London | C4C9 | 128 kbit/s | Joint stereo | Adult contemporary music, networked from London | — |
| Kerrang! Kerrang! 105.2 Kerrang! Radio is a specialist rock music radio station broadcasting to the West Midlands, England. The station's format mixes modern & classic rock with speech programmes targeted at young people and an adult rock audience. Broadcasting on FM in the West Midlands and DAB & Freeview and online,... |
CBCF | 80 kbit/s | Mono | Rock music, networked from Birmingham | — |
| Real Radio (Scotland) Real Radio (Scotland) Real Radio Scotland is an Independent Local Radio station in Central and Southern Scotland, owned and operated by GMG Radio. The station broadcasts from studios at Ballieston in the east end of the Glasgow on 100.3 & 101.1FM and on DAB.- Background :... |
C3A9 | 128 kbit/s | Joint stereo | Regional adult contemporary service | 100.3 MHz (Glasgow) 101.1 MHz (Edinburgh) |
| Real Radio XS Real Radio XS 106.1 Real Radio XS is a radio station based in Salford, Manchester, broadcasting a variety of peak-time news, rock music and talk output.-History:The station began test transmissions as 106.1 Rock Radio on FM on 10 April 2008... |
C8C5 | 128 kbit/s | Joint stereo | Rock music, networked from Manchester | — |
| XFM London Xfm London Xfm London is a commercial radio station in the United Kingdom owned by Global Radio and broadcasts on 104.9 FM in London, on digital radio via 30 DAB multiplexes across the country, Sky, TalkTalk TV and Virgin Media.... |
C0B8 | 128 kbit/s | Joint stereo | Rock music, networked from London | — |