FM to be tuned out in favour of digital by 2017 ?

An article in the Times newspaper on December 19 covered a report from the Digital Radio Working Group which indicated that a compulsory switch from FM to Digital broadcasting as early as 2017 was a possibility.

The report from the Digital Radio Working Group is not currently Government policy. FM radios installed in cars (automobiles) have a lifetime well in excess of 10 years and they may well prove to be the limiting factor for any timescales that are eventually drawn up by the Government.

It is likely to be several years before all new cars come fitted with Digital Radio as standard. Even after that occurs it could take 15 years before all cars that were fitted with FM radios are sent to the crusher.

The full Times article 'FM to be tuned out in favour of digital by 2017' can be read at
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/
industry_sectors/media/article5369738.ece

Digital Radio Working Group sets out vision for digital future
http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/
media_releases/5216.aspx

DRWG Final Report
http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/
DRWG_Final_Report.pdf