Christmas sales have boosted digital radio uptake, according to new figures from the Digital Radio Development Bureau (DRDB), with almost 500,000 digital receivers sold in December alone.
The festive sales push the number of DAB purchases to date to 2.7 million, with 1.4 million sold in 2005 alone.
Around 5.4 million people now listen to digital radio on a DAB device, according to the DRDB, with RAJAR figures released yesterday reporting that 11.1% of the population now live in a DAB equipped household .
The increasing uptake of digital radio, which has more than doubled in the last 12 months, results in a DAB radio market worth approximately £135 million in 2005, up from £86 million in 2004 according to research firm Gfk.
According to RAJAR, more people now listen to digital radio via a DAB receiver than via the internet and digital television combined.
Commenting on the new statistics, Ian Dickens chief executive of the DRDB, said: “Christmas on the High Street was a tough proposition this year. DAB digital radio was once again a shining light with independents, the multi-nationals and especially the mass-merchandisers enjoying strong sales right through the holidays and into January.”
According to the DRDB’s five year forecast for digital radio, by the end of 2009, there will be around 20 million digital radios in UK homes, up from 1.2 million at the end of 2004. Representing a huge fifteen-fold increase, this is sure to please digital broadcasters, with an expected household penetration of 40% by the end of 2009 (see DRDB Predicts Massive Growth In Digital Radio).
This trend is mirrored in the US, with high-tech market research firm, In-Stat forecasting digital satellite and terrestrial radio to reach 22 million in 2009, up from just 5 million in 2004 (see Digital Radio Penetration Set To Rocket).
The company’s Digital Radio: Turning Up the Volume on Satellite and Terrestrial Radio Adoption report, claims that the primary drivers for this growth will be new and compelling data content, data services, price erosion for digital radio receivers and digital radio provider partnerships with new car manufactures.
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