DAB future in doubt

I would of thought that the BBC would be the first to switch off all of their analogue transmissions for radio. It would make sense due to the fact that it would save them money and use the licence fee more effectively that we pay them.

@Brian

I think it’s this article that you’re referring to. I think it’s important to read the piece and not just the headline.

As someone who was actually there when he said it, Tim was trying to describe that a big part of the digital push should be to ensure that radios have FM+DAB to ensure that all listeners are able to get all the stations that are now available.

He was absolutely not saying that people shouldn’t get DAB or that there won’t be an analogue (for large and national station) switch off.

As someone who programs a station that’s on both D1 DAB and the internet, I’m constantly surprised and impressed by the number of people finding it on their DAB radios. We have continual feedback of people buying more DAB radios, getting it installed in their car (or in a couple of cases, taking their battery powered set in the car).

Of course, it’s hard to know what that converts to until the Rajar figures are published, and we all know that the transmission costs can be high, but my belief in DAB has been significantly boosted this year. If you’re offering something different, people will search it out and spread the word, it’d seem.

@Matt, firstly thanks for the link. Second, it just goes to show how easy it is to misunderstand what you think that you have heard. As I said I thought Mr. Davie was saying that manufacuters need not put DAB into radios. Which, on reflection, would have been daft considering the costs being inccurred by the BBC and commercial radio in promoting DAB. It is in a way like the introduction of FM when medium & long wave were the norm. It was never planned for station to leave AM and be on FM only, although in fact, for some staions that is exactly what has happened.

TIm’s reported comments seem very sensible to me: given that many stations won’t be able to switch over to DAB in any case (notably community radio stations).

I bang on about this a lot…I know I do but I just want to know – if anybody has an answer I`d be over the moon….what has DAB got to offer that can`t be achieved with online radio streaming?

I listen to online radio in my car with my iphone hooked up to the head unit (bluetooth in my case but hardwired in an aux socket would work just as well).

Seriously, is there a specific reason why online radio (not bedroom radio) I mean online delivery of radio is shunned?

It seems DAB was a great idea when it was hatched but we`ve moved on leaps and bounds with broadband, wifi etc. Surely the internet is a far cheaper and more easily accessible way of broadcasting these days.

What has DAB got to offer that can`t be achieved with online radio streaming?
It’s free to air.

All streaming services require someone to pay cash to a fixed line or mobile ISP.

So, it provides, on average, twice as many stations as analogue in a predominantly interference-free format, for a one-off payment from £20.

I don’t mind whether people listen to my radio station on DAB, mobile or online. A pair of ears is a pair of ears.

What I do know is that the vast majority listen to through DAB. I also like this, as the more people who listen on IP the more money I have to pay.

When we talk to listeners about why they listen to us that way they all say one thing – it’s easy. It’s a one or two button push and out we come. If they can’t get us on a DAB device, then they try us online or mobile. Biggest issue about listening on the internet is buffering, drop outs and the faff to turn it on that way.

Calder Hughes wrote:

I listen to online radio in my car with my iphone hooked up to the head unit (bluetooth in my case but hardwired in an aux socket would work just as well).

Here in rural North Yorkshire that’s just not an option.  On my drive to work I have reliable 3G coverage for about 5 of the 25 miles. I’m nerdy enough to have tried online listening in the car, but it’s useless here.

We’re also in the days where mobile operators aren’t as generous with their data allowances and it’s easier to run through your monthly limit than a couple of years ago.

Interesting comments – by far the most convincing argument is that it will cost broadcasters to stream online. Not been hit with that one before and it shut me up immediately.

The other points, “its too hard to tune in” I accept as being arguments that have cropped up but, (if we ignore the cost of streaming argument) you as a broadcaster should be showing your listeners how its done – the radio player for example on your website. What a perfect opportunity to drive listeners to your space online where you can deliver more value to your advertisers with links to their sites etc.

Tune-in as an app for various phones and indeed as a website makes it extremely simple to listen online.

I tend to disagree with the comments about data usage – with Three Mobile, unlimited data is available and it really is unlimited. Their coverage here on The Isle of Wight is superb. Other operators are lagging behind hugely where as Three are bolstering their network and offering customers what they need. Of course I`m sure coverage varies but as I said, here, its superb – 5mb dowload speed and 2mb up on an iphone.

Interesting subject to me as I`m convinced online broadcasting and listening will be the norm in a matter of years and DAB will be the Betamax of the radio world – a great idea and possibly a superior experience but….not the format that wins the day.

Who knows. I am now though, a little more enlightened as to why DAB is preferred over online listening – costs! Fair enough I think.

you as a broadcaster should be showing your listeners how its done – the radio player for example on your website.

As an industry we all work together on Radioplayer – completely designed to make the online listening experience better.

Tune-in as an app for various phones and indeed as a website makes it extremely simple to listen online.

Lots of UK stations on there – plus all the main groups have apps to listen to their stations too.

with Three Mobile, unlimited data is available and it really is unlimited

It’s the smallest mobile operator – tens of millions of people are paying for data. I hope unlimited data is here to stay, though if you look at US/other countries is doesn’t look that way. OR you pay a big premium for unlimited (quite a difference paying £30 for a platform/month that then allows you to listen for free).

At the moment DAB counts for 19.1% of hours listened, Net is 3.9% (DTV is 4,4%). If you look at growth, DAB outstrips internet. That’s at a time when broadband penetration is 2.5x DAB penetration/growth in smartphones etc.

I’m definitely not anti-internet and I would expect internet listening 1. to be much higher now and 2. to grow. But lets not write off a thing that’s four times as big and listeners tell us they like using more!