DAB ownership has 'trebled in the last four years', but listening levels drop
It's mixed news for digital radio with today's release of the latest Rajar audience figures.
While ownership of DAB radios has trebled in the last four years, according to Digital Radio UK – the body charged with promoting digital radio in the UK – overall digital radio listening (via DAB, internet and digital TV) accounted for just 20.9 per cent of all radio listening in the last quarter of 2009.
This was down from 21.1 per cent in Q3 2009, but up from 18.3 per cent in the last three months of 2008.
Ford Ennals, the chief executive of Digital Radio UK, admits things could be better: "While these figures are a platform for strong growth in 2010, the radio industry has made it clear that without significant change we will not see the step change in listening habits needed to fully deliver the benefits of digital [radio].
"The Digital Economy Bill is an essential first step in making this happen and we are now working on plans to improve coverage, get more digital radios in cars and work with broadcasters to deliver more exciting content and services."
Of all the digital platforms, DAB performed the most strongly: the number of adults living in a household with a DAB receiver increased by two million from 15.1m in 2008 to 17.1m in 2009.
More than a third of all adults in the UK now own a DAB radio at home, with ownership rising from 11.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2005 to 33.4 per cent in the final quarter of 2009.
In 2009 the percentage share of all radio listening via a digital platform increased by 14 per cent, with 20.9 per cent of listeners now using some form of digital radio.
But if the Government is to meet its target of 2015 for digital switchover, 50 per cent of radio listening must be via digital by the end of 2013. That now seems an ambitious target.
Earlier this week the radio industry called for an 'analogue scrappage scheme' to speed up the switch to digital radio.
Comments
JK6736 The background noise and frequency scanning you are describing is the Christmas cracker FM transmission solution you are using from your pure highway. These are all rubbish weather they are for mp3 players, modular dab radios or phones, - the actual DAB reception is absolutely.
I drive all over the country have had 3 DAB radios in 3 cars - all brilliant (except in Cornwall and North Wales - sorry guys). I just bought a new car and have had to listen to FM for a fortnight, bloody terrible, besides no Planet Rock, I have hiss and drop out on all BBC radio stations, trying to listen to the news quiz this evening driving south from Reading was an absolute wash out, and if the weather is bad its even worse.
I will either replace the car unit with another Dab radio - very affordable now, or wire a Pure highway directly into the Aux port of the car, put a decent antenna on it and normal service will be resumed.
I cant wait to get my DAB back in car where it really makes a difference!
i only listen to dab through SKY/Freeview, my high end pioneer amp only has FM/AM....
targeting the AV amps/recievers might be a better way to deal with this.
and cars.....should come with DAB as standard. but what are the cost implications?
The problem with DAB isn't so much the sound quality (although a strong FM signal gives better results than DAB) but the quality of the stations ...too much mass produced pap ...The BBC stations are fine but the rest (with the exception of mebbe's Planet Rock which at least is targeted for those classic rock fans ignored by the BBC).
Where are the quality talk radio programmes on DAB? What about a specialist sports programme to compete with 5Live (or even the awful Talksport!
And WHY was the Jazz channel dropped?
DAB? pah!
I agree with Chebby - nobodys knows how many actually turn back to FM whilst using these digital radios. I recently purchased PURE Highway and I am very dissappointed with the performance.
I reglarly do a 110 mile trip using M20, M25 and A1 corridors and am forever scanning and changing the channels due to poor reception and in particular background noise. The task of constantly changing channels is becoming a driving risk, bordering on the use of mobile phones at the wheel.
I therefore invariably revert to FM where there is always a clear signal.
I have no doubt that in certain areas people are enjoying a positive experience.
However I ask what is the point of replacing a decent systen with an inferior one.
If my expectations are too high, then please forgive me, for being taken in by all the hype and marketing spin.
Another failure of this government!
I have excellent coverage and reception for DAB and
I sit between two areas
I have a Pure Highway in my car which also works brilliantly
There are 5 DAB sets in the house all of which are used for DAB exclusively as FM radio is so dull
My only problem is with the people who control the stations removing much loved stations from local multiplexes with no thought nor consultation
I just don;t see DAB gaining traction. The quality is ok-ish (FM is better IMHO) but the signal strength is rubbish. Everyone seems to be forgetting that Analogue interference is mildly annoying, digital is down right painful to listen to when the signal breaks down.
Also skimmed over is the fact that most people listen to radio in cars on the way to work. Is there a convincing DAB in car radio yet?... Exactly!
I have Pure radios all over the house - but I'm a 5Live listener and this is where there's the biggest improvement! My FM signal is poor too (even with a roof aerial) so R3 especially is better on DAB- not perfect, I know, but free of noise.
For me, the biggest problem will be what to do about cars - will everyone be prepared to upgrade/purchase an add-on?
I only listen to 6 Music (too grumpy for Radio 1, too young for Radio 2), which is only available digitally.
I use DAB in the kitchen (mono radio) and my Sky+ box in the lounge. I have no complaints with either technology.
Let's face it - it's only radio (inane chat and pop ditties to stave off loneliness).
If you seriously want to listen to music then you're going to play CD, FLAC or vinyl.
Virtually all of those DAB radios also have FM built in, and the figures obscure how many people are using the FM section because reception is superior.
Our Pure Evoke Flow radio (DAB/FM/Internet) is used 80 percent of the time with FM and 20 percent of the time with internet stations.
Don't need digital radio. I listen to FM and AM and the reception and quality is fine. If I want digital, will listen to radio channels via the Internet. Who needs DAB? It's inferior quality.
Same here, very bad reception every time I've heard a DAB and the radios themselves have rubbish build quality compared to normal trannys.
Long live FM!
I've used a dab radio and found it very disappointing, Some days you get a signal and then the next day you can't get a single channel. Even when you do the sound quality is not a patch of FM so until they broadcast DAB + ( Dab version 2 as in Europe ) I'll stick to FM thanks.