Additional Digital Radio Services To Increase

Media secretary Chris Smith has announced that the Government will be increasing the limit of capacity on digital multiplexes that can be used for additional services from 10% to 20%. The Government believes that this will allow more advertising to be carried on data services, the money from which can be used to invest in the development of digital radio itself.

However Chris Smith says that he is keen to ensure that the additional services are used to communicate with the general public. He says: “The Government does not want to see a significant amount of the capacity that has been assigned for digital radio additional services used for services addressed to closed-user groups.”

The Radio Authority (RA) will monitor the use of the extra capacity in this light and will report back to the media secretary two years after the launch of digital radio, at which point Chris Smith will decide whether the limit needs to be revised.

The Commercial Radio Companies Association (CRCA) has also recommended that the content of advertisements is regulated by the Radio Advertising Clearance Centre (RACC). The RA is also to keep check on the effectiveness of the RACC’s regulation.

Department for Culture, Media & Sport: 0171 211 6272 Radio Authority: 0171 405 7058