The credit crunch hits once again … just as DAB is starting to come together.

The second half of 2008 was looking good. Recent agreement on EBU Standard Profiles will ensure compatibility across the continent. The UK Digital Radio Working Group are also about to formally support the move from FM to DAB. Now, just as these standards and a plan finally come into action, the money has gone the other way.

Considering the turbulent economic conditions it makes absolute sense that Channel 4 have announced they will not launch their new UK national multiplex. It’s a pity as they had exciting plans for new stations and data services that would have invigorated the industry. Andy Duncan from Channel 4 was careful to point to financial difficulties as being a key determiner in their decision, not DAB Digital Radio as a platform.

I believe this is actually a good thing for DAB in the UK and here in Ireland.

The speed of development over the past few years has been phenomenal. In the UK almost as many DAB sets have been sold as iPods. Household penetration has gone from 3% to 27% in just four years. DAB accounts for 11% of all radio listening which equates to about Stg£60m in revenue. In Ireland, RTE and commercial stations have voluntarily taken on DAB broadcasts to push the platform.

The economy putting the brakes on gives us time to finalise some key issues before further investment. We now have time for EBU standards to kick in so DAB becomes a true pan-European platform. We now have a path and time to consider implementation of DAB+. The UK’s Digital Radio Working Group will lay a plan of where the UK will go with DAB in the long run. The same will be done in Ireland as the BCI lay their groundwork for commercial DAB during 2009.

While the economy may curb our enthusiasm it is not killing off DAB. If anything it will just make it stronger with DAB emerging from the recession as one of the biggest success stories of the century.