News

Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy, today (Friday) announced the single biggest expansion of local digital radio coverage, which means that nearly eight million more people will receive their favourite local radio stations on DAB loud and clear.

Gavin Oldham, Share Radio’s managing director, wasn’t keen on just launching online. “The Internet really doesn’t reach people the same way as doing it on-air. It’s been a real help to get live on DAB. It has a very large potential audience base. It’s helped us to get started very well.”

"The Superb SE Business model reinforces Skoda's commitment to providing business drivers with very well equipped, efficient and capable company cars," said Patrick McGillycuddy, head of fleet at Skoda. The options added onto the SE Business model are: DAB radio, leather upholstery, heated front seats, 17-inch alloys, sat-nav, dual-zone air-con, power-fold door mirrors, cruise control, a trip computer, Bluetooth and an umbrella in the rear door.

The day when the FM radio signal will be switched off is drawing nearer, the Government indicated, after the UK reached a “tipping point” in the conversion to Digital Radio UK.

In an interview with Le Monde, Marie-Christine Zaragoza, president of France Médias Monde (FMM) has confirmed the media company’s interest in DAB+ in France.

More people are listening to digital radios in the home than ever, statistics show, as digital overtakes analogue for the first time. More than 46 per cent of people who listen to the radio at home now do so on digital sets, compared with 45.6 per cent on analogue, in what will be seen as something of a milestone for the industry.

Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK, says: “The shift to digital listening continues, with digital listening in home now overtaking analogue listening, and DAB is leading the way. The fact that over 25% of radio listening is now on DAB and the success of the national commercial stations on the Digital One DAB network strongly makes the case for the benefits of the launch of D2 – the second national DAB network.”

A quarter of all listening to the radio is now being done on a DAB radio set, according to the latest RAJAR results for Q4, 2014. DAB listening in car grew by 29% year on year and total digital reach in car is now 7.6 million people per week. Almost 50 per cent of the population or 26 million adults now have access to a DAB digital radio, up 7% year on year.

In Trentino-Alto Adige, outside coverage reaches 98% of the population and Bolzano can receive ninety programs. In Trento, 20% of households now have a digital receiver. Around 160 car models come with DAB digital radio as standard.

A recent survey shows that DAB+ radio is now finding it's way into more car brands over the past year.