THE owner of Carlisle-based commercial station CFM has stated its intention to run a new DAB multiplex in the north of the county.

Bauer Media Group, who run CFM, plus national stations Absolute Radio, Kiss and Magic, were the only company to apply to Ofcom to operate the proposed new DAB multiplex covering north and west Cumbria.

Ofcom - the regulatory office who oversee matters relating to broadcasting and telecommunications - advertised three new multiplexes across Cumbria and south west Scotland earlier this year.

The three separate areas were south Cumbria, north Cumbria and south west Scotland.

The application by Bauer to Ofcom states their intention to allow CFM plus BBC Radio Cumbria to broadcast on DAB in higher quality for the first time.

Using a total of five transmitters, the new DAB multiplex would carry 13 radio stations, including a number which are not currently available in the area, but can be heard on DAB in other regions across the country.

The stations lined up include: Greatest Hits Radio, Country Hits Radio, Planet Rock, Scala Radio, Absolute Radio 80s, Absolute Radio 90s, Absolute Classic Rock, Magic Chilled, Magic Soul, Mellow Magic and Jazz FM.

While no new local stations are proposed, the application states capacity will be available for any future additions to broadcast.

A decision on the DAB licences will be revealed by Ofcom later this year.