United Kingdom - Current situation - History
05.06.2014
Digital Radio Switchover
The UK radio industry is committed to a digital future for radio and is working towards a Digital Radio Switchover.
Government criteria for setting a date for digital radio switchover are:
- Digital listening share to reach 50% of all listening hours (currently this is 35.6%)
- When local commercial and national DAB coverage reaches FM equivalence
The DCMS Digital Radio Action Plan has now been completed. Details can be found on the U.K Government website.
DIGITAL RADIO FACTS AND FIGURES:
- Digital listening now 36.6%, up 7% year on year from 34.4% (Rajar Q1, 2014)
- DAB is the most popular device for digital listening (65% of all digital hours
- 25 million adults have access to a DAB digital radio, up 10% year on year
- DAB listening is 23.7%, up 5% year on year
- Listening online/via apps is 6.4%, up 27% year on year
- 51% of the population tunes in via a digital platform each week, up 13% year on year
- Digital listening hours up 7% year on year from 355 million to 379 million
- The share of analogue listening in home is below 50%, at 49.7%
- As of April 2014, 55% of new cars came with DAB digital radio as standard, up from 37.2% in April 2013
DAB coverage expansion
- A major two-year programme of DAB coverage build out is now underway which includes doubling the number of local DAB transmitters (around 200 new transmitters) to get local DAB to FM equivalence, over 162 new transmitters for the BBC national network to expand it from 94% population coverage to 97%, and more transmitters for the national commercial network, Digital One.
- This build-out programme will also focus on the UK’s major road network and the local DAB expansion alone will bring 6,700km of roads in to DAB coverage.
- As these new digital transmitters become operational DRUK will update the consumer facing postcode checker on the www.getdigitalradio.com website
12.05.2014
Digital Radio Switchover
The UK radio industry is committed to a digital future for radio and is working towards a Digital Radio Switchover.
Government criteria for setting a date for digital radio switchover are:
- Digital listening share to reach 50% of all listening hours (currently this is 35.6%)
- When local commercial and national DAB coverage reaches FM equivalence
- Significant progress on conversion of cars to digital radio
A Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Government the BBC and commercial operators in 2012 establishes an agreement in principle to fund the build-out of local DAB to FM equivalences over the next five years, with a commitment to consider further funding if necessary. It confirms also the Government’s commitment to a decision on radio switchover in 2013.
The BBC has committed to build-out its national networks to 97% and at least five new local multiplexes will launch in the next year. Significant signal boosts in London, Manchester, Leeds have improved coverage for thousands of households and there are more to come during 2013/14.
The DCMS Digital Radio Action Plan can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/digital-radio-action-plan
DIGITAL RADIO FACTS AND FIGURES:
- Digital listening now 35.6%, up 14% year on year from 31.3% (Rajar Q3 2013)
- DAB is the most popular device for digital listening (65% of all digital hours) and 24 million adults have access to a DAB digital radio, up 10% year on year
- All platforms show growth in hours, with DAB up 13% year on year, online/apps up 37% and DTV up 7%
- 51% of the population tunes in via a digital platform each week, up 13% year on year
- Digital listening hours up 14% year on year from 320 million to 366 million
- The share of analogue listening in home is below 50%, at 49.7%
As of Q1 2014, 45.2% of new cars came with DAB digital radio as standard, up from 42.8% in Q4 2013.
Following the Government’s statement on digital radio at the end of 2013 it has now published a range of supporting documents here. These include a preliminary analysis of the impact of a switchover, as well as a number of documents addressing technical and communications issues.
14.04.2014
Digital Radio Switchover
The UK radio industry is committed to a digital future for radio and is working towards a Digital Radio Switchover.
Government criteria for setting a date for digital radio switchover are:
- Digital listening share to reach 50% of all listening hours (currently this is 35.6%)
- When local commercial and national DAB coverage reaches FM equivalence
- Significant progress on conversion of cars to digital radio
A Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Government the BBC and commercial operators in 2012 establishes an agreement in principle to fund the build-out of local DAB to FM equivalences over the next five years, with a commitment to consider further funding if necessary. It confirms also the Government’s commitment to a decision on radio switchover in 2013.
The BBC has committed to build-out its national networks to 97% and at least five new local multiplexes will launch in the next year. Significant signal boosts in London, Manchester, Leeds have improved coverage for thousands of households and there are more to come during 2013/14.
The DCMS Digital Radio Action Plan can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/digital-radioaction-plan
DIGITAL RADIO FACTS AND FIGURES:
- Digital listening now 35.6%, up 14% year on year from 31.3% (Rajar Q3 2013)
- DAB is the most popular device for digital listening (65% of all digital hours) and 24 million adults have access to a DAB digital radio, up 10% year on year
- All platforms show growth in hours, with DAB up 13% year on year, online/apps up 37% and DTV up 7%
- 51% of the population tunes in via a digital platform each week, up 13% year on year
- Digital listening hours up 14% year on year from 320 million to 366 million
- The share of analogue listening in home is below 50%, at 49.7%
As of Q1 2014, 45.2% of new cars came with DAB digital radio as standard, up from 42.8% in Q4 2013.
Following the Government’s statement on digital radio at the end of 2013 it has now published a range of supporting documents here. These include a preliminary analysis of the impact of a switchover, as well as a number of documents addressing technical and communications issues.