A GTFM (South Wales) Ltd Project

Charity Number: 1111030

Future-proof, future-ready.

GTFM Radio to 'Go Digital'

GTFM, the not-for-profit local radio station for RCT County Borough plans to celebrate 20th years of full-time FM broadcasting this year by expanding onto the Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) platform in a move intended to guarantee its long-term future.

This is because although GTFM’s FM broadcasts are expected to continue for many years, the eventual plan is for all radio to be digital, as is already the case with television. And just like digital TV, digital radio transmitters can carry lots of different stations all at the same time, not just one.

Importantly too, ordinary FM radios are already being replaced by digital models, especially in new cars, making it easier for listeners to make digital rather than FM radio listening choices.          

The Project Plan

GTFM (a registered charity) has already gained OFCOM permission to establish a local network of DAB transmitters to bring greatly expanded radio listening station choice to people living in RCT and Merthyr County Boroughs. These transmitters will be installed at existing buildings or broadcasting sites so won’t require any new stand-alone masts to be built.

As well as relaying GTFM and eventually up to four other not-for-profit community stations, the new DAB transmitters will carry more than a dozen commercial stations, some for particular minority interest groups and the majority of which are not currently available on-air in the area.

In turn these stations will pay GTFM an annual fee to access the system which will cover its on-going running costs, meaning we’ll only need financial assistance to construct it, after which it should be self-sustaining, with any surplus going into GTFM’s charitable reserve.

Sustainable, future proofed for future generations

Community Support

In order to raise the money to set up its new digital transmission system GTFM needs to prove to prospective funders like the National Lottery there is broad community support for the proposal.

So do YOU think it’s a good idea for people in RCT & Merthyr to be able to hear GTFM and a lot of new radio station choices, plus up to four other community services including ones in Rhondda and Merthyr all at digital sound quality?  

If you do click on the button to record your vote of support for GTFM’s Go Digital Plan.

Your vote will be anonymous and won’t commit you to anything

We hope you’ll want to listen to GTFM on DAB Channel 9A from this summer onwards!

For more information:

Email: godigital@gtfm.co.uk

Phone: 01443 406111

Thank you for your support