The switchover of Britain’s radio networks from analogue to digital will depend largely on the development of digital television, according to BBC Radio 4 controller Helen Boaden.
Speaking at the Radio Festival in Birmingham, the broadcast head claimed that radio switchover would be fuelled by public interest, which would be spurred on by the success of digital television. She said: “I think some people will taste digital radio first through their TVs and then move to digital radio.”
However, the pace of switchover is not expected to be fast, despite calls from the radio industry for the Government to announce a definitive switch-off date for the analogue signal. Boaden stated: “It took 20 years to change from AM to FM. We are looking at a very long process.”
The controller’s opinions were echoed by Guardian Media Group chief executive, John Myers, who said: “I don’t think switchover is anywhere near. I don’t think we will be switching analogue off in the next 15 to 20 years. Not within my working lifetime.”
However, former radio presenter and chief executive of Wise Buddah Creative, Mark Goodier, was more upbeat, blaming technological hurdles for a lengthy switchover process. Adding his opinion to a debate chaired by Radio 4’s Nick Clarke, he said: “If you make technology desirable the public will buy it. Look at the example of mobile phones. There are something like 20 million mobile phones bought and thrown away every year.”
The switchover of the UK’s radio industry to digital broadcasts was raised by culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, earlier this month, A date has yet to be set by the Government, but the issue is sure to become more prevalent as the switchover of television draws nearer (see Analogue Radio Switch-Off Raised By Jowell).
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