BBC Unveils New Radio Content On DTT

The BBC has revealed plans to launch enhanced radio content on its Digital Terrestrial (DTT) service, allowing listeners tuning into its national digital radio service to browse genre and programme-related content.

Listeners will be able to view and browse interactive content while they listen to BBC digital radio networks, integrating the news, sport and weather headlines already available on the service with new programme listings, competitions and features.

Simon Nelson, Controller of BBC Radio & Music Interactive explained: “This development gives those listeners who wish to the opportunity to enjoy a radio experience with text and visual enhancements and more features.”

He added: “It also gives us a platform on which we can build all sorts of further enhancements and interactivity, and help to make radio on digital television even more popular.”

Rahul Chakkara, Controller of BBCi, added: “This is a natural evolution of the BBCi service, offering radio listeners access to BBCi content. We are starting with Freeview and plan to make this service available on other digital television platforms soon.”

The enhanced service will offer listeners the option of viewing what’s on other BBC radio channels and switching to any one of them directly.

Digital radio continues to increase in popularity, with the latest RAJAR results for the second quarter of 2005 showing both the BBC and commercial stations notching positive growth as sales of DAB radios increase (see RAJAR Results Q2 2005:Digital Leads The Way In National Radio).

The results revealed a healthy performance for the BBC, with Radio 2 remaining the UK’s largest station, despite a dip of 1.2%, with a weekly reach of 13.27 million. The Corporation’s flagship music station Radio 1 added 5.32% to its audience in the same period to top the 10 million mark. The station’s weekly reach now stands at 10.24 million, it’s highest since the beginning of 2003.

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk