The owners of Carlisle’s CFM station have signalled their intention to apply for digital licence services across Cumbria.

Bauer Media revealed that it is will make a DAB application to Ofcom after the communications regulator advertised DAB digital radio multiplex licences for the Morecambe Bay and north and West Cumbria areas, along with southwest Scotland.

The application to Ofcom will provide existing and new stations with an opportunity to get on air with the first-ever DAB services to become available in the county, the company said.

Grae Allan, Bauer Digital’s DAB Radio director said: “Digital Radio listening has expanded significantly in recent years.

“DAB multiplexes provide the lion’s share of digital listening across the UK, so we’re excited that Ofcom has now advertised local DAB licences for the Cumbria area, and that BDR will be making an application.”

Bauer Digital already holds DAB multiplexes across Scotland, the North of England and in Northern Ireland, while parent company Bauer Radio has a joint venture DAB multiplex licenses with media company Global in London, Birmingham and Manchester.

Carlisle-based CFM forms part of Bauer's Hits Radio Network of stations, which also includes Metro Radio in Newcastle, Rock FM in Lancashire, and Radio Aire in Leeds.

Based at Kingstown, it broadcasts across north Cumbria and parts of south west Scotland.