United Kingdom - Current situation - History
01.07.2008
The UK has recently announced 7 million sets sold and despite a difficult economic climate, DAB sales are currently running slightly ahead of forecast. Latest research data shows that 27.3% of adults (15+) own a DAB receiver and this results in the medium recording a 10.8% share of all radio listening.
The radio industry, alongside manufacturers, retailers, legislators, the car industry and chip makers, has been working with the government's Digital Radio Working Group to identify and overcome barriers to further growth of the UK DAB market. Much progress has been made and, by the end of 2008, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport is expected to give a statement on a clear route forward for DAB in particular and digital radio in general.
In July 2007 the UK regulator, Ofcom, announced the award of the second DAB national radio multiplex to the 4 Digital Group Limited. Shareholders in this group include Channel 4, Sky News, Emap, UTV, The Carphone Warehouse & UBC. This multiplex licence will allow the 4 Digital Group to broadcast a radio and multimedia service. This licence and other local licences will mean a growth in the number of national and local DAB services in the UK over the next three years. The proposal is for ten new audio programmes such as a youth service, rolling news, speech and entertainment, Asian service, female-friendly service, children’s service etc. There are also plans to provide a selection of pod casts using DAB+. Over the next 12 months, 4 Digital Group plans to launch eight national programmes and nine pod casts and estimates outdoor coverage at launch will be 86.6%. The Group has committed £4.5 million to marketing DAB in the first three years of the licence. Slideshow, "DABverts", the first DAB chip in a mobile phone, docking stations with DAB, and the greater inclusion of DAB in MP3 players have all contributed to the success of DAB digital radio in the UK.
BT Movio launched mobile TV via DAB-IP in the UK in 2006 with Virgin Mobile. BT Movio offered live TV, radio, seven-day programme guides and a red button for interactivity. They were the first wholesale broadcast mobile entertainment service. However, handsets from the major manufacturers were not readily available and by early 2008 the mobile TV services had been withdrawn from the market.
23.06.2008
The UK has recently announced 7 million sets sold and despite a difficult economic climate, DAB sales are currently running slightly ahead of forecast. Latest research data shows that 27.3% of adults (15+) own a DAB receiver and this results in the medium recording a 10.8% share of all radio listening.
The radio industry, alongside manufacturers, retailers, legislators, the car industry and chip makers, has been working with the government's Digital Radio Working Group to identify and overcome barriers to further growth of the UK DAB market. Much progress has been made and, by the end of 2008, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport is expected to give a statement on a clear route forward for DAB in particular and digital radio in general.
In July 2007 the UK regulator, Ofcom, announced the award of the second DAB national radio multiplex to the 4 Digital Group Limited. Shareholders in this group include Channel 4, Sky News, Emap, UTV, The Carphone Warehouse & UBC. This multiplex licence will allow the 4 Digital Group to broadcast a radio and multimedia service. This licence and other local licences will mean a growth in the number of national and local DAB services in the UK over the next three years. The proposal is for ten new audio programmes such as a youth service, rolling news, speech and entertainment, Asian service, female-friendly service, children’s service etc. There are also plans to provide a selection of pod casts using DAB+. Over the next 12 months, 4 Digital Group plans to launch eight national programmes and nine pod casts and estimates outdoor coverage at launch will be 86.6%. The Group has committed £4.5 million to marketing DAB in the first three years of the licence. Slideshow, "DABverts", the first DAB chip in a mobile phone, docking stations with DAB, and the greater inclusion of DAB in MP3 players have all contributed to the success of DAB digital radio in the UK.
BT Movio launched mobile TV via DAB-IP in the UK in 2006 with Virgin Mobile. BT Movio offered live TV, radio, seven-day programme guides and a red button for interactivity. They were the first wholesale broadcast mobile entertainment service. However, handsets from the major manufacturers were not readily available and they announced in Summer 2007 their withdrawal from the mobile TV market at the end of 2007.
20.01.2008
The UK announced five million sets sold in summer 2007 and a further growth with 18% of households owning a DAB digital radio. Further developments,which have aided this growth include increased coverage and the roll out of new services. A unique on-demand Digital Music Download Service called Cliq is expected to launch soon.
In July 2007 the UK regulator, Ofcom, announced the award of the second DAB national radio multiplex to the 4 Digital Group Limited. Shareholders in this group include Channel 4, Sky News, Emap, UTV, The Carphone Warehouse & UBC. This multiplex licence will allow the 4 Digital Group to broadcast a radio and multimedia service. This licence and other local licences will mean a growth in the number of national and local DAB services in the UK over the next three years. The proposal is for ten new audio programmes such as a youth service, rolling news, speech and entertainment, Asian service, female-friendly service, children’s service etc. There are also plans to provide a selection of pod casts using DAB+. Over the next 12 months, 4 Digital Group plans to launch eight national programmes and nine pod casts and estimates outdoor coverage at launch will be 86.6%. The Group has committed £4.5 million to marketing DAB in the first three years of the licence. Slideshow, "DABverts", the first DAB chip in a mobile phone, docking stations with DAB, and the greater inclusion of DAB in MP3 players have all contributed to the success of DAB digital radio in the UK.
BT Movio launched mobile TV via DAB-IP in the UK in 2006 with Virgin Mobile. BT Movio offered live TV, radio, seven-day programme guides and a red button for interactivity. They were the first wholesale broadcast mobile entertainment service. However, handsets from the major manufacturers were not readily available and they announced in Summer 2007 their withdrawal from the mobile TV market at the end of 2007.