"Digital Britain" White Paper - Good News for TPEG

The UK Government has published its long-awaited "DIGITAL BRITAIN" White Paper ( http://www.dcms.gov.uk/reference_library/media_releases/6220.aspx )

The White Paper outlines the Government's position and plans for a wide range of communications topics, including broadband internet access, televistion and radio. A number of the radio plans are specifically relevant, and intended to provide a strong boost for DAB digital radio. Traffic information is seen as key to the proliferation of DAB.

citation page 16:

"The Government accepts that analysis and proposes, with the industry, the supply chain and consumers the process of Digital Upgrade so that all our national broadcast radio stations are DAB-only from the end of 2015. To that end, the Government is looking to the BBC to extend national DAB coverage so that it is at least comparable to FM radio coverage; and to the supply chain to deliver a range of DAB radios at the key sub-£20 price point that makes swap-out economic. The Government will also work with the automotive industry, and with the Commission and other key member states in Europe (one of whom has already indicated its intention to prohibit analogue-only radios in vehicles from 2013) on the five point plan set out in this Digital Britain Report to enable the majority of the vehicle parc to be converted to digital before 2015 and with low-cost converters for the remainder."

 

citation page 210:

"Digital radio in vehicles: a five point programme

In-car listening represents a significant portion of total radio listening (around 20%). It is important that listeners have the confidence they will continue to have access to their favourite stations in their cars after the Radio Upgrade. Therefore, we are proposing the following measures to support take-up of digital radio in new and existing vehicles sold in the UK. We will:

1. Work with manufacturers so that vehicles sold with a radio are digitally enabled by the end of 2013;
2. Support a common logo for digital radios and ensure that non-DAB radios, and their limitations, are clearly labelled;
3. Encourage the development of portable digital converters, such as the Pure Highway, and the integration of DAB into other vehicle devices such as Sat-Navs;
4. Promote the introduction of more sophisticated traffic information via DAB and comprehensive marketing by broadcasters; and
5. Work with our European partners, including the European Commission, to develop a common European approach to digital radio. We have approached the European Commission to encourage them to lead a Community-wide effort. Such an approach, as was adopted in digital television, could provide certainty well in advance for vehicle manufacturers and those providing in-car devices to bring the unit price of conversion down."