Digital Radio
The Government is committed to the development of digital radio in the UK. We believe digital radio offers:
- Around twice the number of stations than analogue
- Hiss & crackle free sound
- Easier tuning
- New functions (e.g. pause and rewind)
- New multimedia and interactive services
- More effective spectrum use
Currently, 85% of the UK population can receive digital radio and this figure continues to increase. You can check coverage in your area by clicking on the following link, www.digitalradionow.com/statf.php and entering your postcode.
In the UK there are two national multiplexes* operating (one BBC, the other commercial - 'Digital One'). Ofcom have so far awarded 46 local multiplex licences. Contact Ofcom to see if one is operating in your area.
* A multiplex is a form of transmission whereby the signal of several stations are transmitted simultaneously in one 'bundle', thus making a more efficient use of the spectrum.
Matters relating to the provision of new transmitters and coverage are generally for the broadcasters themselves. Depending on the particular stations you are interested in receiving, please see below:
- For national BBC digital stations, contact the BBC's reception advice line on 08700 100 123 www.bbc.co.uk/reception
- For national commercial stations, get in touch with Digital One on 020 7288 4600 info@digitalone.co.uk
- For details of local commercial stations and your local BBC station, contact Ofcom or on 020 7981 3040
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Digital Radio Review
Section 67 of the Broadcasting Act 1996 requires the Secretary of State to review the development of digital radio, for the purpose of considering for how long it would be appropriate for sound broadcasting services to continue to be provided in analogue form. The Act requires the review to look at:
- The provision in the UK of radio multiplex services
- The availability in the UK of digital sound programme services and existing analogue services in digital form and the sound broadcasting services of the BBC
- The ownership or possession in the UK of equipment capable of receiving digital sound services
The review should also look at the likely future extent of such provision, such availability and such ownership or possession.
The Act requires the Secretary of State to ask Ofcom and the BBC for reports on these matters.
The BBC response was published on 13 December 2004 and is available at: www.bbc.co.uk/info/policies/dab_review.shtml. Ofcom published their report on 15 December 2004 and it is available at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2004/12/nr_20041215.
We are broadly in agreement with the BBC's and Ofcom's recommendations and will work with all the main stakeholders to overcome the remaining potential barriers to digital radio take-up and to identify the conditions which need to be satisfied before a switch over date can be considered.
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