Digital Britain by 2015
The UK Government published its plan for a digital Britain today naming 2015 as their “Digital Radio Upgrade” year when FM services will move to DAB only and MW services will move to FM.By naming a date, the government in one pivotal move, has finally given the industry a goal to work towards similar to the 2012 deadline which is working so well for the digital switchover in television. The plan for radio contains a number of keys dates as follows:
2013:
- All DAB receivers sold in the UK to conform to the minimum EBU/WorldDMB Profile 1
- All radios in new cars to have DAB as standard.
- DAB carrying local radio to be comparable to FM and cover 90% of the UK.
2014:
- BBC National Radio services to cover 90% of the UK on DAB with signal comparable to FM.
2015:
- Services on National and Local DAB to stop broadcasting on FM.
- Medium Wave broadcasting will also stop with MW services moving onto the vacated FM frequencies.
The goal is simple. Upgrade FM to DAB and MW to FM.
Why do this at all?
The report makes a number of points. Firstly the national FM infrastructure will need to be replaced in the coming years and the decision has been made to replace it with DAB. This allows the radio industry to grow with new services and innovate with new ways to use a radio such as EPG and Slideshow. Neither of these can be achieved by analogue FM for which technological capability and scarcity of spectrum are very real issues today.
Secondly, to remain relevant, radio must develop for a digital age where television, print, music, video, internet, mobile communications and more are all using the advantages digital technology offers.
In the closing paragraph, it’s made clear that even though the government are finally providing key clarity of direction, it is up to the radio industry to make it work. Knowing this clarity is something the BBC and commercial radio have jointly been calling for I feel the plan will be well received by the industry and they are well capable of meeting the 2015 deadline.
But what of ourselves in Ireland? Will this new injection of purpose with our closest neighbour effect our decisions here? If anything, the plan as outlined, would work even more effectively and faster in the Irish market. The UK plan may well act as a catalyst on the Irish industry where our own BCI plan for digital begins with its first report on the matter this autumn and a new DAB trial is planned for year end. Without a doubt we are in for some interesting developments during the rest of this year.
If you would like more detail on the British “Digital Radio Upgrade” I would recommend reading Adam Bowie of Absolute Radios or Nick Piggott from Global Radio. Better yet, download the actual Digital Britain Report from the Department of Cultures website here. The chapter covering radio is Chapter Three.
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