Digital radio switchover by 2017
The UK could switch from analogue to digital radio as early as 2017, according to the Digital Radio Working Group’s (DRWG) final report.
The group set out three key criteria that it believes must be met in order to trigger digital migration – which includes making sure at least 50% of total radio listening occurs on digital platforms, national digital multiplex coverage is comparable to current FM coverage and local digital multiplexes reach at least 90% of the population.
Ofcom is expected to monitor the progress against the criteria on an ongoing basis, and once the criteria is met the Government will announce a date for migration, which the DRWG believes will be as early as 2017.
Barry Cox, chairman of the DRWG, said: “With nearly a million DAB sets expected to be sold this Christmas, we know listeners are already benefiting from the choice of channels available at the moment.
“We have always believed in the future of digital radio and now urge the industry, along with Government and Ofcom to address the barriers to successful migration, so people can access even more choice and functionality in the future.
“Most importantly, we need to see overall coverage for DAB improve, along with more focus to get motorists to adopt DAB so that it can be a real alternative to FM services,” he added.
Ofcom, the BBC, commercial radio representatives, community radio and consumers groups have been in a series of meetings with DRWG to try and map out a timetable for the future of the medium.
Digital radio has been struggling since Channel 4 pulled out of the second national commercial multiplex, owned by 4Digital Group, in October (see Channel 4 Abandons Digital Radio Venture).
Channel 4’s exit from 4DG forced the remaining shareholders – Bauer Media, UBC Media, UTV, BSkyB and Carphone Warehouse – to dissolve the business and hand the licence back to Ofcom (see Board pull plug on 4DG).
However, in a bid to boost the commercial digital audio broadcasting (DAB) service, the BBC announced plans to put one of more its digital radio stations onto the Digital One national network (see BBC may put stations on Digital One network).
Andy Burnham, culture secretary, said: “This is a crucial time for the radio industry. I am pleased that the Working Group has been able to achieve such consensus and has recognised that there needs to be a strong consumer proposition for digital radio.
“We will now study the recommendations made by the group very carefully as part of the wider work being undertaken for the Digital Britain report,” he added.
Ofcom: 020 7981 3040 www.ofcom.org.uk BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk