Digital radio switchover

The Government has published an Action Plan setting out its intention to see radio broadcasting switch from analogue to digital audio broadcasting (“DAB”). The original target date, which the industry considered achievable and the Government said it would support, was 2015. However, switchover will only begin when 50% of all listening is to digital, when national DAB coverage is comparable to FM, and when local DAB reaches 90% of the population and all major roads. A decision on whether to proceed with digital switchover was expected by the end of 2013. The Government stresses that when the decision is made to set a firm date for digital radio switchover, “it will be the criteria, not the timetable, which take precedence.” In a speech and Written Statement in December 2013, the Minister, Ed Vaizey, announced a package of measures to aid the industry and encourage consumers to migrate to digital. However, there was no announcement of a switchover date, since the criteria have not yet been met.