BBC Launches Digital Radio Broadcasts Today

BBC Radio has today switched on its Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) service. This means that in addition to analogue transmission on FM and AM, all BBC national networks will be carried on DAB.

The new technology also enables the BBC to carry additional programmes, and in its introductory service, three areas of coverage were announced – live broadcasts from the House of Commons, extra sports commentaries and programmes from BBC World Service.

DAB receiving sets will are expected to become increasingly available over the next two to three years, and are expected to drop in price with volume production. Currently most major manufacturers are at the prototype stage. The service initially covers 20% of the population, but this will grow to 60% by March 1998.

A new service was also announced, unique to BBC DAB called BBC NOW, which will provide information night and day in a rolling 10-minute format and is billed as “audio-on-demand in embryo.”