[cma-l] Radio likely to switch to digital by 2020
Ian Hickling
transplanfm at hotmail.com
Fri Dec 12 13:19:58 GMT 2008
This makes me very angry.
Firstly - who has decided that we need to get out of analogue
broadcasting - FM in particular - at all?
And why?
What is the all-pressing need to use 88-108MHz for something else in the
UK when most other countries will still be keeping it for broadcasting?
What is going to happen to all the equipment - still being openly sold
over the counter now - which will only work on our present DAB format
when the time comes to change to DAB+ or some other platform?
How are the smaller independent stations going to be incorporated into
the exclusive Big Boys' Club format that we have at present?
It ain't broke - so don't try to fix it!
Ian Hickling
Partner
transplan UK
> Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:44:30 +0000
> From: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk; comradio-l at commedia.org.uk
> Subject: [cma-l] Radio likely to switch to digital by 2020
>
> John Plunkett
> Friday 12 December 2008 09.14 GMT
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/dec/12/digital-radio-radio
>
> The body set up by the government to secure the future of digital
> radio in the UK is expected to predict next week that switchover for
> the medium could be completed by 2020.
>
> Next week's final report by the Digital Radio Working Group comes at
> the end of a series of meetings, some of them vigorously debated,
> between representatives of commercial radio, the BBC, media regulator
> Ofcom, community radio and manufacturing and consumer groups,
> according to sources.
>
> The various parties were brought together by the government to map out
> a timetable for digital radio, which has been beset by uncertainty
> over the future of one of its key methods of delivery, digital audio
> broadcasting (DAB).
>
> But despite the setbacks - which saw Channel 4 pull the plug on its
> DAB ambitions and a host of digital stations shut down, including
> TheJazz, OneWord and Mojo - the DRWG is expected to say that the
> migration of most radio content to digital could be completed by 2020.
>
> This would reinforce the conclusions of the group's interim report,
> published in June, that recommended the establishment of a timetable
> for the migration of all UK radio from analogue to digital. DRWG said
> digital switchover should be completed between 2015 and 2020.
>
> However, the report is also expected to recognise that parts of the
> country will still not be able to receive a DAB signal even by 2020,
> so will stop short of a blanket analogue switch-off date like the 2012
> deadline set for terrestrial television.
>
> One of the key issues still to be resolved is who will pick up the
> bill for the improvements required to the DAB radio signal, and how to
> encourage car manufacturers to fit more dashboard digital radios.
>
> Ofcom is also likely to oversee a reorganisation of the way DAB
> multiplexes are organised on a local, regional and national level.
>
> One option would see the BBC's Asian Network, and possibly some other
> BBC services, move to commercial DAB multiplex, Digital One.
>
> The ill-fated second national commercial multiplex, which was awarded
> to now defunct Channel 4-led 4 Digital consortium, has yet to be
> re-advertised.
>
> DRWG's findings are expected to be a key part of communications
> minister Lord Carter's Digital Britain report next year.
>
> Speaking to the culture, media and sport committee on Wednesday,
> Carter said: "Radio can be received on mobile phones and through the
> television. Could you have digital radio without DAB? Yes, you
> probably could.
>
> "If we do want DAB, we need to push it along a bit or technology will
> drive it out."
>
> Community Media Association
> --
> http://www.commedia.org.uk/
> http://twitter.com/community_media
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