Home Entertainment ANALYSIS: DIGITAL RADIO


‘Let the UK be the first major European country to go fully digital’


Pure radios on sale in the Elkjøp store in Tromsø, Norway


Pure Evoke C-F6 stereo DAB/FM


internet radio with CD and Bluetooth


Paul Smith, chief executive of British radio brand Pure, on why the UK should follow in Norway’s footsteps and make the switch to digital


s the pioneers of digital radio and one of the biggest suppliers into the Norwegian market, today [December 13, 2017] is a


great day for digital radio and marks a historic event. “Today, the final FM transmitter has been turned


off in northern Norway, making it the first country in the world to go digital. Switzerland will be following hot on its heels, as it prepares for a 2024 FM switch-off.


“Norway’s neighbour, Denmark, and other


European countries, such as Belgium and the Netherlands, are also actively preparing for a digital switchover.


“The UK was the first major country to build a national network of digital transmitters and within months will reach the Government switchover criterion of 50 per cent digital listening and population coverage equal to or exceeding analogue. In several European countries, they have – or are putting in place – legislation to outlaw the sale of FM-only radios to help accelerate their ambition to become truly digital broadcast regions.


“So, given that the infrastructure is in place, the criteria will soon be met and several


countries have now overtaken the UK with digital migration, why are we sceptical to proceed with committing to a date? Especially as, if we take into consideration that both the BBC and commercial broadcasters


must pay for two simultaneous


transmitter networks (one for FM, one for DAB), digital broadcasting is significantly more efficient than FM (energy and operational costs) and many of the FM transmitters are typically in need of repair or replacement.


“The simple answer is that we are in uncertain political times and there are no votes to be won for announcing a progressive switch to this aspect of a digital economy. A few years ago, we committed to a digital TV switchover that said the valuable analogue spectrum could be sold for huge sums to bolster HM’s treasury. The same windfall bonus doesn’t apply to turning off AM and FM broadcasts. “The UK can be considered more prepared now than Norway was when they turned off their first FM transmitters back in January last year and we don’t even have a date for switch-off. We have a far greater penetration of digital radio – the broadcasters, device manufacturers and retailers are ready. There is already an amazing selection of digital-only stations in addition to the stations that listeners already know and love. The regulatory framework is essentially in place and also includes the ability for small, local stations to transmit digitally. “Despite growing music services from companies such as Spotify, Google, Apple and Amazon, the


February 2018 ertonline.co.uk


Paul Smith


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vast majority of listening remains firmly on radio, regardless or age, region or demographic. Already 17 million people per week listen to services that are not available on analogue. “As


a British company with UK-based


engineering, developing some of the world’s most advanced digital radios, we will clearly benefit from a digital switchover. We also believe that the UK should show leadership in a sector in which its companies dominate. The switchover is inevitable, but is simply being stalled due to the general political climate. Our message is simple, let the UK be the first major European country to go fully digital in its broadcast backbone – TV and radio. Post-Brexit will be a new era for the UK, regardless of the final outcome, in the broadcast sector – at least let it be digital.”


The UK can be considered more prepared now than Norway was when they turned off their first FM transmitters back in January last year and we don’t even have a date for switch- off. We have a far greater penetration of digital radio – the broadcasters, device manufacturers and retailers are ready


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