More listeners to get digital radio choice

Digital radio will cover more homes and provide listeners with greater choice thanks to new investment, Communications Minister Ed Vaizey announced today. Mr Vaizey outlined a package of measures that will provide more people with access to digital radio and told today’s Go Digital Conference that while great progress had been made in rolling-out digital radio, we needed to continue improving the service before a decision can be taken to switchover.

The Government has been clear that a decision on digital radio switchover can only be made when various benchmarks are met, including when listening via digital is at 50 per cent. It is currently 35.6 per cent.

Mr Vaizey said: “I absolutely believe that the future of radio in this country is digital. We cannot go backwards. The radio listener will get a much better service, and better functionality. There will be far more choice, with many more stations. The UK is at the forefront of developments in digital radio, and we have a huge opportunity not just with the UK market but also throughout Europe. This package of measures is intended to cement this and herald in a digital age, as and when the consumer is ready.”

Ed Vaizey today revealed the package of measures includes:

• Up to £21m of new investment from the BBC, Government and commercial radio to build out digital radio coverage, so more homes can receive it;
• Government funding for Ofcom to develop ways for smaller radio stations to go digital;
• Ofcom will next year advertise the licence to build and run a second national DAB multiplex to allow new national commercial stations to launch;
• A new partnership being formed between Digital Radio UK and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency as well as the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency to provide people with information on upgrading their car radio to digital;
• Ofcom will review music format rules next year to see if these can be relaxed to give industry greater freedom to adapt to changing consumer tastes and to ensure competition. Government and Ofcom will also look more closely at other regulations around radio to ensure they are fit for a digital age;
• Digital Radio UK will speak to industry about taking forward the Digital Certification Mark scheme to signpost consumers to digital radios that meet a minimum specification – giving them greater assurance on the product they are buying;
• DRUK will also speak to industry about extending this scheme to in car digital radio installers– so motorists upgrading their car radio to digital will know the person responsible for installing it knows what they’re doing.

Mr Vaizey said that more and more people were choosing to listen digitally with 35.6 per cent of radio listening via digital compared with 21.1 per cent in 2009.

He added: “I have always said that the radio listener will lead the transition to digital. We set ourselves a series of benchmarks. Listening should be at 50%. Coverage needs to be built out with firm plans in place to match FM coverage for all stations moving from analogue. We are not there yet. So now is not the time to switchover.”