RSS

DAB digital switchover "may not happen in our lifetime"

27 APR 2009

More affordable DAB radios needed

The switchover from analogue to digital radio "may not happen in our lifetime", according to the head of BBC Radio, Tim Davie.

Speaking at the MediaGuardian's Radio Reborn conference in London today, Davie told delegates that "continuing current purchase trends would not lead to radio switchover in our lifetime".

Davie says there need to be better, cheaper DAB radios for people to buy. "Freeview happened because you could pick up a £20 set-top box in Tesco and away you go."

He has called for "a real and secure road map" to digital radio, but warned there are "huge risks" ahead.

With this in mind, the BBC and commercial radio are to join forces to set up a cross-industry Radio Council to secure the medium's future, according to MediaGuardian.

One of the Radio Council's first aims is to create a cross-platform radio player and electronic programme guide (EPG) for BBC and commercial stations, called Radio+. If it gets the go-ahead, it could be launched by the end of this year.

Have your say

Comments

danpixel April 28, 2009 13:13

Internet Radio will be the eventual winner as it has the potential for a better than cd quality (1440kilobits) service!

fido87456 April 28, 2009 10:46

Good. Turning off analogue radio would be a terrible idea!

haider April 28, 2009 09:30

If you really want to know where its all going all you have to do is look at the back end of uptake on chips and modules that perform certain tasks, like DAB, Internet Radio, FM etc. The truth of the matter is hedging on multi platform took place last year and failed. The situation now is very simple, there is a big bet on digital pipelines like 3G/4G and Broadband getting wider and becoming the main route for audio broadcast or on demand. The infrastructure is happening anyway so the costs will be less prohibitive and more likely to provide higher quality anyway. Also, all we need to do is look to parts of the far east where portable radio is a 3G phone for example. A bit like Vinyl and CD, analogue radio will have a far longer life than DAB which is really just a stop gap.

Pmaninit April 28, 2009 08:21

The future is that new long range FM anyway, DAB will phase out rather than takeover... waste of time of you ask me

audiodiplomat April 27, 2009 23:28

Great! That means my Leak Troughlines (11 and 111) can continue giving me the sterling musical-sounding service that the burbling DABs could never achieve.