Digital Radio Working Group sets out vision for digital future

A report on the Department for Culture Media and Sport website suggests that stations using Band II FM (88-108 MHz) vacate that band and move to only using DAB on Band III.

From the media release at:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/media_releases/5216.aspx

A long term plan should be developed to move all radio services across to digital, according to the Digital Radio Working Group (DRWG), in its interim report.

However, in the medium term, the group recommends migrating all national, regional and large local stations to Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), with FM continuing to be used by small local and community radio stations. Government should set out the conditions which must be met before this change could be achieved, and which would trigger migration. Fundamental to this will be an assessment of the extent to which listeners have adopted digital radio, particularly DAB, as well as levels of coverage.

The DRWG does not recommend setting a date for switchover to digital radio now. Instead, it recommends a timetable for migration is set out, which is dependent on progress against the agreed criteria. The group �s initial assessment is that migration could be completed by 2020.

Chairman of the DRWG Barry Cox said:

"At the end of May this year, sales of DAB sets exceeded seven million. We believe radio must have a digital future and that this will benefit both listeners and industry. Audiences will be able to enjoy increased functionality and more choice of channels, while the industry will no longer have to sustain the increased transmission costs of broadcasting on multiple platforms.

"If these benefits are to be achieved, then action must be taken to address the significant challenges which threaten the future growth of the market. There is a great deal to be done to address these issues, and I hope that this interim report will stimulate debate on how to achieve a digital future."

Read the full report at:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/DRWG2008-interimreport.pdf