[cma-l] Hansard Written Answers & Statements, 28/11/13 - Digital Broadcasting: Radio (Culture Media & Sport)

[CMA-L]

++ Tracey Crouch (Chatham & Aylesford, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what
assessment her Department has made of (a) the extent of public access
to DAB radio, (b) the number of listeners that will lose access to
local radio stations and (c) whether audio quality will improve for
listeners in the event of a UK digital radio switchover.

++ Edward Vaizey (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Culture,
Communications & Creative Industries), Business, Innovation & Skills;
Wantage, Conservative)

Following the launch of the Digital Radio Action plan in 2010, local
DAB coverage has increased from 66% to 72%. In October, the BBC
announced plans to extend coverage for its national DAB services from
94% to 97.3% of households, and Arqiva has developed plans for the
extension of national commercial DAB services from 84.9% to 91% of
households to match Classic FM coverage.

We have always said that FM will continue to be an appropriate
platform for smaller commercial stations and community radio. The vast
majority of digital radio sets have FM included and this is mandated
in the minimum technical specifications drawn up by industry as part
of the Digital Radio Action Plan. This means that listeners who switch
to digital radio will still be able to get local services on FM. We
recognise the desire from small local and community radio stations to
have a pathway onto the DAB platform and are working with Ofcom on
examining the potential of new small scale DAB solutions following a
successful trial earlier this year in Brighton.

Independent research carried out in Bath by IPSOS/Mori found that
households were very positive about digital radio with 80% of
participants rating it as better than analogue radio.

Hansard Source:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131128/text/131128w0002.htm#131128w0002.htm_wqn69

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