Launching on DAB in London

Two banks.
One frequency.

A new community radio station for London — broadcasting from a local small-scale DAB multiplex, bringing North and South London together to celebrate our cultures and fight for a cleaner, calmer Thames.

Illustration of a bridge crossing the Thames, connecting the north and south banks, with radio waves broadcasting from the centre

Why we exist

One river, two banks, one community

For generations, the Thames has been treated as a boundary — a line that splits London in two. Cross River Radio exists to flip that idea: to use the airwaves to connect both banks, celebrate what makes each side distinct, and rally the whole city around the river that runs through all of us.

North meets South

Split programming, shared airwaves. Every week we pair voices, DJs and stories from both sides of the river — turning the Thames from a divide into a meeting point.

A calmer, cleaner river

We champion the people working to make the Thames less "cross" — partnering with river safety, conservation and clean-up groups on both banks to put their work on air.

A stage for new talent

We work with London's music colleges to give emerging DJs and presenters real airtime, real audiences, and a genuine credit for their portfolio.

Community Digital Sound Programme

Applying for our Ofcom community radio licence

We're a not-for-profit community station in the process of applying to Ofcom for a Community Digital Sound Programme (C-DSP) licence, broadcasting on a local small-scale DAB multiplex serving London.

Community radio licences exist to deliver real social value — and ours is simple: bring both banks of the Thames closer together, support the river's recovery, and give young broadcasters their first break. Every show we schedule has to earn its place against that mission.

Not-for-profit Small-scale DAB Licence application in progress
DAB · Small-scale multiplex · London

Proud to work alongside

Partners across the river

We're building relationships with river safety, heritage and environmental organisations, plus London's music colleges — so the station is rooted in real community work from day one.

RNLI — River Thames Lifeboat Stations
Raybel Charters — Thames Sailing Barge
ICMP London
ELAM — East London Arts & Music
The Rhythm Studio
Local river clean-up groups

Partnerships are in development alongside our licence application — see Get Involved for how organisations can work with us.

2
Riverbanks, one station
C-DSP
Ofcom licence type
100%
Community-focused
0
Tolerance for a dirty river

Want to help build Cross River Radio?

Whether you're a DJ, a community organisation, a river charity or just someone who loves London — there's a place for you in this project.