DIGITAL RADIO
SWITCHOVER IN THE UK
- BACKGROUND NOTES FROM THE SOCIETY of MOTOR MANUFACTURERS and TRADERS
Why a
switchover?
The government announced in July, 2009 that it intended to work towards switching
the UK’s nationally broadcast radio services from FM (analogue) to digital radio. The
main reasons given were that digital provided a better listening experience and
that a much wider range of stations could be provided than on FM, which was
full.
What’s the
timing?
Government said that a decision would be taken in 2013, with a view to giving two years’
notice of switchover.
What are the
main criteria to be met?
Government set two criteria which would have to be met before a switchover date could be
announced:- at least 50% of listening must be to digital platforms (Note: not just to digital
radio.) - national DAB coverage must be comparable to FM coverage and local DAB must reach 90% of
the population and all major roads.
What was
needed from the automotive industry?
Government set two targets for the automotive industry:- all new
vehicles sold with radios should be digitally enabled by the end of 2013 (which was based on a similar obligation imposed by the French Government)- the market
should be digitally-enabled before 2015, using a mixture of retro-fit radios and adapters. Vehicle manufacturers which are members of SMMT signed up to the 2013 target for new vehicles – though describing it as ‘challenging’. They were not asked to sign up to the target for the market, which was regarded as an aftermarket operation
which vehicle manufacturers could not influence in the same way as the new vehicle market.
Why’s the
automotive sector so important?
In-vehicle listening accounts for roughly 21-22% of all radio listening. Without a move to
digital listening in vehicles, the possibility of reaching the 50% target is greatly reduced.
What’s the
size of the challenge?
SMMT has estimated that some 25.0 million cars and 3.0 million other vehicles in the present market will need to be digitally-enabled before 2015. (Figures are approximate because there can be different assumptions about the rate of new
vehicle registrations, while the extent to which older vehicles (especially cars) will actually be retro-fitted will depend on a trade-off between the value of a car and the cost of a radio or adapter.)
What’s the
automotive industry doing?
As mentioned above, vehicle manufacturers have signed up to the 2013 target for new vehicles sold with radios. Government launched a Digital Radio Action Plan in 2009. The Plan’s purpose is to obtain
information needed to allow government to take a well-informed decision on whether to proceed with switchover.Recognising the importance of the automotive sector, the Plan includes an In-Vehicle
Sub-Group to consider issues particular to the industry. SMMT accepted an
invitation to Chair and administer this group. In turn, the Sub-Group has
created working groups to give in-depth consideration to individual subjects.
Deadlines for finalisation of their reports range from the middle of 2011
through to the end of 2013. Membership of these working groups is not restricted to SMMT members, and a wide range of
interests, including consumers and equipment manufacturers, is actively involved*.
Will
switchover happen?
There has been much speculation in the press about the possibility that switchover will
be delayed or even postponed. SMMT’s view is that switchover will happen – Ministers’ statements tend towards ‘when, not if’, and the Coalition Government has continued with the policy it inherited
from its Labour predecessor. It is possible that the ‘aspirational’ date of
2015 may slip slightly. In particular, progress towards retro-fitting the
market may be slower than needed to meet the government’s target of full
conversion ‘before 2015’.
However:
- Vehicle manufacturers are committed to the deadline of 2013 for all new vehicles to be
digitally-enabled. There will be a series of announcements throughout 2011 and
2012 about individual manufacturers’ intentions. - there is a
serious danger of reputational risk should owners find that the radios in their vehicles do not work after a switchover (ie, they cannot receive nationally broadcast services which have migrated to digital). The industry must continue
to make progress with aftermarket issues if this risk is to be avoided.
* The MESF represents your interests on the Installation and Consumer Working Groups.
Source: Bob
Davis SMMT Digital Radio Co-ordinator