News

Digital coverage for local radio stations went from zero to more than 400,000 listeners at the flick of a switch yesterday.

During TechCon, part of the Radio Festival in the UK, Jane Ostler, communications director at Digital Radio UK, outlined a consumer trial of DAB Digital Radio, measuring the impact of radio switchover on consumers.

Phones and tablets aren't the only electronic gadgets that can benefit from updated firmware. My Blu-ray player, for example, often uses its internet connection to grab the latest version of its operating system from Sony’s servers, and the DAB radio in my kitchen periodically calls home via Wi-Fi to check if there’s an upgrade available.

New MuxCo DAB transmitters in Gloucestershire means Sunshine Radio and BBC Radio Gloucestershire are now broadcasting on digital radio for the first time.The two local stations are joined by Heart and Gold covering 400,000 people in the area.

It means BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Heart, Gold and others are available to people using digital radios. Further DAB transmitters covering the north and south Cotswolds are due to be added before the end of the year.

Representatives from Commercial Radio Australia will present the benefits of DAB+ digital radio at the Australian Audio and AV Show today at the Intercontinental Hotel, Melbourne.

The BBC is to site two new digital radio transmitters in the Isle of Man, north and south.The aim is to extend DAB coverage for BBC national network stations to more than 97 per cent of the UK population.

The BMW 4 Series Convertible now comes with DAB as standard.

The regional public and commercial radio stations, as well as a number of stations on AM, may make the transition to DAB+ before summer 2014.

DAB is set to launch across Gloucestershire in two phases and will mean 400,000 listeners in the county can receive four local radio stations - BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Gold, Heart and Sunshine Radio.