What happened to all the digital radio stations?

[237SJ]

I used to listen to Capital Gold, Real Radio and quite a few others. Now when I try to tune my DAB radio they all say "station off-air". What happened to them all? Did they disappear due to lack of interest? All I`ve got now are a lot of ethnic stations and various BBC ones.

[Buenchico]

With the rise of internet advertising, many companies are now not prepared to pay the relatively high costs of broadcast advertising. Further, in the current economic climate, the advertising budget is often the first thing which companies cut. ITV is close to bankruptcy (with many media pundits forecasting the demise of ITV1 within the next year or two). Similarly many radio stations have found that the costs of accessing the DAB network are not being met by the advertising revenue generated.

Additionally, vehicle manufacturers (and the companies which make the radios for their cars) seem to be waiting until the situation regarding the development of European digital radio has become clearer before fitting digital radios, as standard equipment, into most cars. Very few European countries have adopted the DAB format for digital radio. Most of Europe has waited until the newer (and technically superior) DAB+ system has become available. The two systems are not compatible, so different types of radio would be needed in different countries (and cross-channel travellers would find that their radios would not work when abroad).

The inability of broadcasters to get digital signals into listeners' cars makes it even less tempting for firms to spend money on DAB advertising.

Chris

[237SJ]

Chris, what do you think will happen when all radio goes over to digital? Will we have a dearth of radio stations?

[scotman]

Radio broadcasting 'through the air' is regarded by some as well past its sell-by date. Given the increase in speed of the internet, the disparity of standards, the cost of receivers and the reduced advertising revenue available it no longer seems a viable business model for many.
Added to the problem with cars as Chris has stated above the jury is still out, as they say.

[Buenchico]

Hi, 237SJ

I suspect that the switchover to totally-digital radio is a long way off yet. Although a theoretical date of 2015 has been set, it will almost certainly get put back. (The UK Government signed an international broadcasting agreement, committing us to completing the digital TV switchover by 2001. So long delays aren't exactly unknown!).

There are still a great many 'unknowns in the equation'. It would make sense, in many ways,if the UK joined the rest of Europe and adopted DAB+, but that would make all existing DAB radios redundant. Further, a new system (called DRM = Digital Radio Mondial) is currently being trialled, which permits digital radio to be broadcast over long distances on Medium Wave). So it's hard to predict the future of radio in the UK. However my guess is that the situation is fairly stable at the moment. (i.e. we'll keep the existing digital stations, plus those which switch from FM to digital but we won't see many new stations).

Chris

[237SJ]

Thanks for your answers. I hope radio doesn`t die out. I don`t want to listen to it over the internet. I have very fond memories of listening to Radio Luxemburg under the bedclothes and I have a radio in every room! We`ll see

Sue