[comradio-l] [cma-l] Radio likely to switch to digital by 2020

[Ian Hickling]

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