United Kingdom - Regulation and Spectrum - History
08.04.2020
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:
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Digital listening share to reach 50% of all listening hours (criteria met Q1 2018)
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When local commercial and national DAB coverage reaches FM equivalence (criteria met)
Digital Radio and Audio review
The UK government has also kicked-off a digital radio and audio review, which will examine future trends and consider how radio should adapt to changing listening habits. This review is planned to complete in March 2021.
Small-scale DAB
Ofcom reinforce that the primary focus of the programme is to enable community stations , small commercial stations and new entrants to have an affordable pathway to terrestrial digital radio. That is the priority for the use of available DAB spectrum but Ofcom have said that later in the programme they will consider the requirement and opportunity for additional local DAB multiplexes where there is evidence of demand and spectrum availability . The criteria Ofcom have set for the small scale multiplexes and their services is the consumer benefits of social gain, and local community accountability and participation. Ofcom have confirmed that to be eligible for the new Community Digital Social Programme ( C-DSP) licenses the services will have to have studios based in the coverage area .They have stipulated a minimum of three C-DSP services on each multiplex to be community radio stations . Ofcom decided to maintain their position that coverage of the small-scale multiplexes should not exceed 40% of the population of the given area.
18.08.2015
Key features of regulation for digital radio regulation in the United Kingdom are:
- Digital radio services are broadcast on Band III
- Third party in some cases operate multiplex
- More recently, operated by broadcasters
- National criteria for switch off of analogue:
- 50% of listening must be via digital platforms
- Digital coverage for national services must be comparable to FM, and local DAB reach 90% of the population as well as major roads.
A Royal Charter and Agreement govern the public broadcaster; the BBC, with new stations subject to Government approval and the Office of Communications (Ofcom) regulate the commercial sector. Multiplex licences are currently awarded on a beauty contest formula rather than auctioned. Regulation controls such things as minimum bit-rate for music stations, mandatory ‘must carry’ obligations, maintenance of service providers’ stations commitments and the amount of data content.
In the United Kingdom media and communications regulator Ofcom advertise and provide the licenses for digital radio services in the United Kingdom, under the Broadcasting Acts of 1990 and 1996. Ofcom awards licenses for digital radio services differently depending on the type of service and the platform. Ofcom advertises the licences of new digital radio ensembles and are subject to an open competition to the highest bidder. Ensemble licence awards are awarded for twelve years. Licences are awarded on a national, regional and local basis.
Broadcasters also need to contact the ensemble or multiplex operator of a local or national DAB ensemble or digital terrestrial multiplex to broadcast within a region, subject to a fee payable to the ensemble operator.
30.09.2014
Key features of regulation for digital radio regulation in the United Kingdom are:
- Digital radio services are broadcast on Band III
- Third party in some cases operate multiplex
- More recently, operated by broadcasters
- National criteria for switch off of analogue:
- 50% of listening must be via digital platforms
- Digital coverage for national services must be comparable to FM, and local DAB reach 90% of the population as well as major roads.
A Royal Charter and Agreement govern the public broadcaster; the BBC, with new stations subject to Government approval and the Office of Communications (Ofcom) regulate the commercial sector. Multiplex licences are currently awarded on a beauty contest formula rather than auctioned. Regulation controls such things as minimum bit-rate for music stations, mandatory ‘must carry’ obligations, maintenance of service providers’ stations commitments and the amount of data content.
In the United Kingdom media and communications regulator Ofcom advertise and provide the licenses for digital radio services in the United Kingdom, under the Broadcasting Acts of 1990 and 1996. Ofcom awards licenses for digital radio services differently depending on the type of service and the platform. Ofcom advertises the licences of new digital radio ensembles and are subject to an open competition to the highest bidder. Ensemble licence awards are awarded for twelve years. Licences are awarded on a national, regional and local basis.
Broadcasters also need to contact the ensemble or multiplex operator of a local or national DAB ensemble or digital terrestrial multiplex to broadcast within a region, subject to a fee payable to the ensemble operator.
UK’s digital radio minimum receiver specification reports
In 2013 the UK Government published a number of radio minimum receiver specification reports –domestic and in-vehicle. You can find the full reports on www.gov.uk. You can read about the tick mark initiative in the automotive section for progress.