Rogers: Radio switchover date should be “abandoned”

The digital radio switchover date of 2015 should be “abandoned completely”, according to chief executive of UKRD and The Local Radio Company.

Speaking to Radio Today, William Rogers complained of The Radio Centre and its inability to “hold the coalition together”.

“The fundamental rift, in my view, is one between those of us who seek to ensure the future viability of the whole of the commercial radio sector and those who do not. What kind of industry is it that happily supports a strategic and structural change which only applies to about two thirds of its operations?,” he said.

“What kind of strategy is it that dissipates the marketplace and then deliberately sets about creating two tiers of commercial station; those with a digital future and those without?

“Is it really an effective planning process that advocates a move to a DAB digital platform with a switch-over date of 2015, with a review as early as 2013, when in car listening, for example, on that self same platform is not even going to be given a substantial boost by motor manufacturers until 2014? That switch-over date should be abandoned completely. It is, in the now famous words of another radio executive,’farcical’.”

Williams went on to criticise digital signal, which he said is not good enough in many parts of the country.  He also called for a major improvement in the DAB infrastructure.

Having voiced concerns over the future of commercial radio and the problems over the BBC having “a permanent advantage”, Williams explained the reasons behind UKRD and TLRC leaving The Radio Centre earlier this month, which he says was “a huge decision”.

“A case is being made that could do potentially serious damage to our business and those of others in the sector at our level and we must speak out without the normal compromise and conditions that usually apply to membership of any trade body or organization,” he said.