Southampton’s Unity 101 Community Radio is now broadcasting on DAB digital radio, extending its reach across Portsmouth, Winchester, Basingstoke and Poole via the digital airwaves.

This marks a major step for our multi award-winning station, which has been part of Southampton’s cultural life for almost 20 years. Known for our diverse mix of local news, music, multilingual programming and community voices, Unity 101 is now available to thousands more listeners across Hampshire and Dorset.

At the same time, we’ve completed a full studio refit, giving our volunteers and presenters a brand-new digital space to continue producing and broadcasting high-quality programmes.

“It’s an exciting time for Unity 101,” said Station Manager and Founder, Ram Kalyan “Kelly”. “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 run entirely by volunteers and provide a platform for Southampton’s Asian and ethnic communities, broadcasting programmes in languages including Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Polish, Mandarin and Tamil, alongside English-language shows. Our volunteers receive in-house training in all aspects of radio, and we also offer schools, colleges, charities and public sector organisations hands-on broadcasting opportunities.

The new studio upgrade includes state-of-the-art broadcast desks and production equipment designed to enhance live radio, podcasts and remote interviews.

Drive Time presenter Chayya Thanki (pictured) has volunteered with us for 10 years. Speaking about the DAB launch, she 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.”

“We’re still the same trusted voice, just on a bigger stage,” added Kelly. “We invite everyone in Hampshire and Dorset to tune in and discover what community radio really sounds like.”

To listen, find Unity 101 on DAB digital radio in Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester, Basingstoke and Poole – or listen online at www.unity101.org.

Photo: Chayya Thanki presenting the Drive Time show