Digital Radio UK activities transfer to Radioplayer

Radio industry body, Digital Radio UK’s activities, will be transferred into Radioplayer after an agreement was reached by the BBC, Global, Bauer and Radiocentre.

This decision comes as the latest Government & Industry Digital and Audio Review highlighted there were “significant benefits” to strengthening collaboration between UK broadcasters as well as partnerships with European radio broadcasters.

The aim of this move is to “maximise digital and multiplatform opportunity”.

The BBC, Global and Bauer will significantly increase investment in Radioplayer to make sure radio remains “easily accessible” and encourage international collaboration.

Radioplayer is a not-for-profit organisation between the BBC and commercial radio that aims to simplify radio listening across multiple devices.

Digital Radio UK was founded in 2010 to accelerate the growth of digital listening, which has increased from 25% at that time to 65% last year.

Its CEO, Ford Ennals, has stepped down and will move to a new role in commercial radio abroad.

The BBC, Bauer, Global and Radiocentre commented on the restructure in a joint statement: “We know there are further significant changes taking place in the audio market and in how audiences are accessing our content, as the recent Digital Radio and Audio Review highlighted.  The newly structured Radioplayer, combined with increased investment and continued collaboration, will allow us to embrace every digital opportunity available to us and successfully deliver the next phase of innovation and transformation for the radio industry.”