Digital One Deal Could Lead To Cheaper, Smaller Digital Tuners

Uptake of digital radio services could be boosted by a new deal to produce cheaper, smaller digital radio sets. Digital One has announced a strategic agreement for joint development, funding and marketing with Imagination Technology, which could mean sets priced under £150 being on sale within a year.

Hossein Yassaie, president and CEO of Imagination Technology commented, “The brutal truth is that digital radio cannot replace the old analogue radio systems until it becomes both cheaper and more portable.” Digital One chief executive Quentin Howard agreed, describing the deal as “a huge step forward.”

At present, the cheapest digital radio receivers cost £299 and most are either in-car systems or hi-fi tuners. The smaller, cheaper system will use Imagination Technology’s new multi threaded digital signal processing chip, which is small enough to incorporate into systems as small as personal stereos. It will be made available for sale and licensing to manufacturers of digital radio equipment worldwide.

Ralph Bernard, chief executive of GWR Group, which owns a 63% stake in Digital One, pointed out that with 78% of the population already included in the digital transmission area, “the availability of a lower cost and a broader range of digital radios earlier than anticipated should speed the development of the consumer market in digital radio.”

Digital One: 020 7518 2620 www.digitalone.co.uk

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