Radio Body Calls For Firm Switchover Date

The Digital Radio Development Bureau (DRDB) has published a report by former secretary of state for culture, media and sport Chris Smith calling for more DAB Digital Radio frequencies, and a reshuffle of existing services to prepare for digital switchover of the nation’s analogue radio signals.

The switch to an all digital environment for radio is, according to Smith, “an objective to be sincerely sought,” with its ultimate benefits a “desirable aim both for the industry and for consumers.”

However, Smith does not yet believe that establishing a firm switchover date is possible, “we should be working towards the point where we can.”

“Incomplete coverage of local radio services represents the greatest obstacle to the move to an all-digital environment,” he explains, recommending that Ofcom give urgent consideration to “reconfiguration of existing frequencies” to make more efficient use of the existing DAB spectrum.

Smith also calls for an increased range of digital multiplexes in order to resolve configuration issues within the next 12 months.

The report, commissioned by the DRDB, claims that, although nearly half (46%) of local commercial radio stations, and nearly three-quarters of BBC local and regional services are already broadcasting on DAB Digital Radio, there is insufficient spectrum to allow all such services to migrate to the DAB platform prior to switchover, even when more spectrum becomes available next year. The report also states that many smaller local stations simply cannot afford to make the transition to digital.

To deal with this problem, Smith recommends that a cross-industry working group be established to assess possible financial arrangements to bring smaller stations to the digital platform.

Speaking of the report’s importance, Ralph Bernard, chairman of the DRDB, said: “Digital radio is the most important development in UK radio broadcasting in more than 30 years. The move to an all digital future is inevitable and this important report starts the process for setting a timetable for analogue switch over. I agree with Lord Smith that we should be working towards an analogue cut-off date.”

DRDB: 020 7306 2630 www.drdb.org