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GOVERNMENT BACKS DAB
Listed under: News
Published: Friday, July 09, 2010
Culture Minister outlines Digital Radio Action Plan
Speaking at the fifth annual Consumer Electronics Conference organised by technology industry body Intellect, Vaizey reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to existing DAB technology and outlined a Digital Radio Action plan that will be implemented over the coming years.
The government will firstly look into strengthening the UK’s DAB broadcasting infrastructure so that coverage matches that of FM, and carry out a detailed assessment of what impact the switchover will have, with a view to ensuring that rural areas will not be adversely affected by the change.
Also announced were plans to launch a digital radio kitemark scheme to guarantee a certain level of quality hardware for customers and the development of a strategic marketing and communications campaign. Finally, the Government will determine whether a help scheme will be required to assist certain members of the public and how this would operate in practice.
The Minister stated that, “We believe radio’s future is a mixed ecology, with DAB, which is mobile, free at the point of access and cost efficient providing the ‘spine’ of the digital radio offering and the internet providing the added value.” On the subject of whether newer DAB+ technology might be adopted in the UK, he added that, “DAB remains the most appropriate digital broadcast platform for the UK. A change in technology, to say DAB+, offers little benefit to the industry or listeners compared to the impact it would have. The benefits of DAB+ are primarily a more effective use of spectrum, but DAB already offers significant capacity for new services and there are only so many which the market can sustain”.
Above all, the Minister was keen to stress that, “We agree that 2015 is an appropriate target date; a point at which all parts of the supply-chain can focus on. If, and it is a big if, the consumer is ready we will support a 2015 switchover date. Instead, any changeover would depend on listener numbers. “We will only consider implementing a Digital Radio Switchover once at least 50% of all listening is already on digital, or to put it another way when analogue listening is in the minority.”
For radio manufacturers and retailers, one of the most notable points in the speech came when he addressed the issue of ‘in-vehicle digital conversion’ and announced his intention to “Meet with the major car manufacturers shortly and...re-affirm our view that digital radio should be standard in all cars by the end of 2013”.
Elsewhere in his address, the Minister made passing reference to BBC 6Music – recently saved from proposed closure after a vociferous public campaign – as the sort of ‘digital radio content’ that both the BBC and commercial sector should be looking to provide more of.
Speaking as details of the Minister’s speech were first announced, Digital Radio UK Chief Executive Ford Ennals said that, “The focus on consumers, coverage and cars is vital, and Digital Radio UK looks forward to working with Government and industry to ensure the UK is ready for digital radio switchover”.
Tim Davie, Director of Audio and Music, BBC, meanwhile commented that, “We welcome the Government’s commitment to radio’s digital future and the importance they have placed on the listener in any future switchover. The BBC will, along with Digital Radio UK, work closely with Government and the rest of the radio sector to deliver the Action Plan”.
Contact: +44 (0)20 3206 7870
www.digitalradiouk.com
The government will firstly look into strengthening the UK’s DAB broadcasting infrastructure so that coverage matches that of FM, and carry out a detailed assessment of what impact the switchover will have, with a view to ensuring that rural areas will not be adversely affected by the change.
Also announced were plans to launch a digital radio kitemark scheme to guarantee a certain level of quality hardware for customers and the development of a strategic marketing and communications campaign. Finally, the Government will determine whether a help scheme will be required to assist certain members of the public and how this would operate in practice.
The Minister stated that, “We believe radio’s future is a mixed ecology, with DAB, which is mobile, free at the point of access and cost efficient providing the ‘spine’ of the digital radio offering and the internet providing the added value.” On the subject of whether newer DAB+ technology might be adopted in the UK, he added that, “DAB remains the most appropriate digital broadcast platform for the UK. A change in technology, to say DAB+, offers little benefit to the industry or listeners compared to the impact it would have. The benefits of DAB+ are primarily a more effective use of spectrum, but DAB already offers significant capacity for new services and there are only so many which the market can sustain”.
Above all, the Minister was keen to stress that, “We agree that 2015 is an appropriate target date; a point at which all parts of the supply-chain can focus on. If, and it is a big if, the consumer is ready we will support a 2015 switchover date. Instead, any changeover would depend on listener numbers. “We will only consider implementing a Digital Radio Switchover once at least 50% of all listening is already on digital, or to put it another way when analogue listening is in the minority.”
For radio manufacturers and retailers, one of the most notable points in the speech came when he addressed the issue of ‘in-vehicle digital conversion’ and announced his intention to “Meet with the major car manufacturers shortly and...re-affirm our view that digital radio should be standard in all cars by the end of 2013”.
Elsewhere in his address, the Minister made passing reference to BBC 6Music – recently saved from proposed closure after a vociferous public campaign – as the sort of ‘digital radio content’ that both the BBC and commercial sector should be looking to provide more of.
Speaking as details of the Minister’s speech were first announced, Digital Radio UK Chief Executive Ford Ennals said that, “The focus on consumers, coverage and cars is vital, and Digital Radio UK looks forward to working with Government and industry to ensure the UK is ready for digital radio switchover”.
Tim Davie, Director of Audio and Music, BBC, meanwhile commented that, “We welcome the Government’s commitment to radio’s digital future and the importance they have placed on the listener in any future switchover. The BBC will, along with Digital Radio UK, work closely with Government and the rest of the radio sector to deliver the Action Plan”.
Contact: +44 (0)20 3206 7870
www.digitalradiouk.com
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