UK Government speech on Digital Radio

Communications Minister Ed Vaizey has said the future of radio is digital, but listeners will determine the pace of change.

He pledged that FM will not be turned off until two key targets are met:

- the vast majority of listeners have voluntarily adopted digital radio over analogue.
- digital coverage matches FM.

He gave an assurance that FM will remain a platform for small local and community radio for as long as these services want it.

In his speech Ed Vaizey said:

“But we can’t impose this on an unwilling public, no matter how persuasive the business case, or how clearly we know that analogue is already providing a barrier to growth and creativity. So listeners need to be persuaded that the content on offer is compelling, that the quality is high and that digital radios, at home or in the car, are affordable and have listening quality that is at least as good as FM."

Listeners to lead the way to radio’s digital future
http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/media_releases/7225.aspx

Speech to Intellect Consumer Electronics Conference
http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/
ministers_speeches/7226.aspx

FM radio is safe, minister promises
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jul/08/
fm-radio-safe-minister-promises

BBC - Fine tuning the 'senior service'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/
highlands_and_islands/10559350.stm

BBC Radio 4 - FM switch-off date 'not set in stone'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/
newsid_8799000/8799719.stm

Letter to Telegraph by Practical Wireless editor Rob Mannion, G3XFD
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/july2010/
ed_vaizey_dab_statement.htm