2 days ago
Community radio station goes digital with DAB launch and studio upgrade
A community radio station is expanding its reach and upgrading its broadcast facilities.
Unity 101 in Southampton is now broadcasting on DAB digital radio across Hampshire and parts of Dorset following a ten-year extension to its broadcasting licence from Ofcom.
The station, which first went on air in 2005, is run entirely by volunteers and serves as a voice for Asian and ethnic communities in the region.
Programming is offered in multiple languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Polish, Mandarin, Tamil, and English.
Ram Kalyan "Kelly," station manager and founder, said: "It's an exciting time for Unity 101.
"The new studio brings us into the next phase of community broadcasting – and with DAB, we can now reach audiences across a wider regional area.
"We're still the same trusted voice, just on a bigger stage."
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Listeners in Portsmouth, Winchester, Basingstoke, and Poole can now tune in more easily, broadening the station's reach.
The recent studio upgrade includes modern broadcast desks and production equipment designed to support higher-quality live radio, podcasts, and remote interviews.
Chayya Thanki, a drive time presenter who has volunteered with Unity 101 for a decade, said: "It feels lovely to be presenting to a wider audience.
"People used to come up to me and say they couldn't get Unity 101 in their area.
"Now I guess they'll be happy to know they can tune in on DAB."
Unity 101 offers in-house radio training for its volunteers and provides hands-on broadcasting experience to schools, colleges, and public sector organisations.
Its programming features a mix of afrobeats, Bollywood, bhangra, soul, and world music, as well as cultural shows, celebrity interviews, community news, and discussions on topical issues.
Regular contributors include the NHS, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, Hampshire Constabulary, and local arts organisations.
Ram said: "The future is full of potential.
"I'm grateful to every person who has supported us.
"Unity 101 has always belonged to the community.
"We invite everyone in Hampshire and Dorset to tune in and discover what community radio really sounds like."
