Is DAB the new Eight Track?

[Dover]

Listening to Radio five this morning their technology reporter was relaying that on o the major players in DAB are closing their transmitters, as it is costing more than 19 million a year in investment. I did not get their name, but they did mention Planet Rock will be going off air, so this will be the Digital 1 Network.

The broadcast stated the company in question will be developing their services via digital television and possibly FM broadcasting.

At present, one of the stations closed a couple of weeks ago, and has been replaced by Birdsong.

The report stated the BBC spend around 9 million a year on DAB at present. Should the Beeb pull out of the service, and is this a waste of licence payers money. Or are any of you like myself who think DAB is a good platform, but without stations wishing to use the format it will be just a BBC only platform. I must admit I have had DAB for over two years and have been disappointed by the small amount of stations who have decided to broadcast on it.

 

[Cian]

The BBC developed DAB, I seriously doubt they're going to turn it off any time soon. 9 million a year for a nationwide service that serves a few million+ receivers is not a waste of money.

DAB in the UK is arse due to poor compression and woeful controls set by Ofcom on overall quality. In countries where theres stricter controls on what bitrates you're allowed use and pre-processing of audio it does provide FM or higher quality.

As goes the birdsong on D1, thats because theres no enough bandwidth free to launch another service at the moment, but they're filling it with a sound service rather than blank packbits.

And as goes lack of stations, you're getting another nationwide (rather than GB-wide like Digital One, which isn't available in Northern Ireland) multiplex this year - another 8 to 10 stations available everywhere.

 

[Timbo]

The BBC developed DAB, I seriously doubt they're going to turn it off any time soon. 9 million a year for a nationwide service that serves a few million+ receivers is not a waste of money.

DAB in the UK is arse due to poor compression and woeful controls set by Ofcom on overall quality. In countries where theres stricter controls on what bitrates you're allowed use and pre-processing of audio it does provide FM or higher quality.

As goes the birdsong on D1, thats because theres no enough bandwidth free to launch another service at the moment, but they're filling it with a sound service rather than blank packbits.

And as goes lack of stations, you're getting another nationwide (rather than GB-wide like Digital One, which isn't available in Northern Ireland) multiplex this year - another 8 to 10 stations available everywhere.

Not a word of it.

 

[The Clown of Pevensey Bay]

DAB was actually developed jointly by the BBC and Commercial Radio Companies Association.

GCap, which owns Southern FM, Classic FM, Planet Rock, and loads of other stations has announced it's going to shut down its national digital-only stations (you'll still be able to get Southern on DAB)

Yes, the sound quality on DAB is not perfect, but with respect, MYOB, only geeks care about this. People were perfectly happy listening to music radio on medium wave for years, after all. Millions of people listen to music radio online, which is compressed even more. And the figures show that listening to digital-only music stations is climbing steadily.

If you ask me, it's further evidence of the endemic, long-term, problem with commercial radio. The industry has spent too long cutting costs, which leads to a crap product, which loses audience, which loses ad revenue.

My eight years of working in the radio industry (the first three and a half in the commercial sector) has taught me that ALL big ideas turn to shit as soon as the cash (either the ad revenue or the licence fee settlement) starts to dry up. I expect Channel 4 to shut down at least some of the stations on its new network within three years of starting up.

If I had a lot of money and had to choose between throwing it into a radio station or a struggling football club, I'd choose the radio station. But only just.

 

[Dover]

FAO The Clown of Pevensey Bay.

Do you feel that DAB will become a BBC only platform, and that due to finaces comercial radio will shy away from DAB? Also is going directly to Sky or on line services a cheaper option for radio or any other broadcastiing medium?

Many thanks, Dover.

 

[Barry Izbak]

I'm very disappointed to hear this, not least because I have Planetrock on all day every day when I am working from home - like today. When Planetrock goes, I have no idea what I'll listen to. I hate pop music and inane chat and adverts. Its bollocks.

I have got four DAB radios and here in Hove the reception is excellent. However the other side of the Downs its piss poor, so I can understand why the take up hasn't been good enough. If DAB was not only an option in cars, then I am sure the take up would have been excellent.

 

[Trufflehound]

*Insert hilarious fish pun here*

 

[Don't get me started]

For me DAB is the second coming. I love the Radio and think most Telly is pulp. For me DAB has opened up so much more. Why can't we do anything properly FFS.

We can't build to budget on time, the trains are shit and expensive, our National team is a joke, although in fairness it has been for a while. Now we seem to have screwed up a good idea Ahhhhhhhhh

Nurse Nurse .....................oh too late

 

[beorhthelm]

i think the underlying problem for DAB is interest. people arent buying the radios because there is no difference other than increased chioce, but that choice is for more commercial stations all playing the same records, so why bother? thats not to say it has failed, it will be a slow burner as car radios are fitted and people upgrade their radios over time. but there isnt going to be a mass rush of uptake that commercial stations require to justify the expediture. come back in 10 years.

 

[Adam Virgo's Shirt]

Isn't the main reason why there is limited choice on DAB due to the overwhelming cost to the broadcasters to use this platform?

Tens of thousands of pounds I believe!

I used to listen to Passion FM on DAB but that has disappeared now. A decent station, but without the cash to sustain using DAB

 

[The Clown of Pevensey Bay]

FAO The Clown of Pevensey Bay.

Do you feel that DAB will become a BBC only platform, and that due to finaces comercial radio will shy away from DAB? Also is going directly to Sky or on line services a cheaper option for radio or any other broadcastiing medium?

Many thanks, Dover.

Will DAB become BBC-only? I don't think so. The licences are handed out by Ofcom, and can be bought and sold between broadcasters. So the market will ensure they always find a price.

But that doesn't mean the BBC won't dominate. Heavily.

I'm not sure what you mean by "going to Sky" for radio -- do you mean listening through your digital satellite TV receiver? That's certainly one option, if you wire it up to speakers in your kitchen or bathroom or whatever.

As for the internet -- I think it's the future of radio. I've got a normal-sized radio set that connects to my wireless internet at home. I can then pick up any station that broadcasts on the internet -- anywhere in the world. This includes everything from BBC Southern Counties' cricket commentary, to Ramallah FM, to Triple-J (the excellent Australian version of Radio 1) to my personal favourite, WFNX in Boston.

It's hardly a specialist bit of kit -- It's called a Logik IR100 and I got mine in Dixons for fifty quid. I would say buy one NOW. Eventually, when wireless internet is provided in "clouds" over very wide areas (which will happen in the next ten years, I would say) this will be available in cars etc.

(NB another problem with DAB is that car makers have refused to put DAB radios in new cars, and you have to pay to have one installed if you want one)

 

[The Clown of Pevensey Bay]

Isn't the main reason why there is limited choice on DAB due to the overwhelming cost to the broadcasters to use this platform?

Tens of thousands of pounds I believe!

The actual cost of running a transmitter and buying the rights to the bandwidth is not that much greater than broadcasting one station on FM. Because GCap have several national digital stations, this obviously costs them quite a bit. But not all that much in terms of their overall turnover/profits.

And you do need to be part of a big radio group which owns shares in a "multiplex" in order to get on DAB. It's not something a very small company can set up, like they can with an FM licence.

 

[Bozza]

Get an internet radio - a stand-alone device that will pick up streams from your wireless router. There's a lot more stations on t'internet than on DAB.

 

[The Clown of Pevensey Bay]

Get an internet radio - a stand-alone device that will pick up streams from your wireless router. There's a lot more stations on t'internet than on DAB.

Like I said, only more concisely put. Lucky I don't write things for a living, isn't it?
















Wait a minute, that's not right.

 

[Dover]

Gentlemen. I have two DAB radios in my flat. i have brought the new C5.

 

[The Clown of Pevensey Bay]

I've got FIVE DABs (bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, a portable one, and a device that makes my iPod into a DAB) and an internet radio (lounge) and two FM radios (one in the car, one spare).

 

[Cian]

I've a DAB in my bedroom, the kitchen, the living room and my car. I've an FM radio in my phone and in three of the DAB units...

 

[Dover]

I've got FIVE DABs (bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, a portable one, and a device that makes my iPod into a DAB) and an internet radio (lounge) and two FM radios (one in the car, one spare).

Bilmey.

I am disapointed that Planet Rock will be disapering from the medium, and thats what got me started.

I hope not to go down the satalite/internet route. I give enough money to Murdoch already.

 

[Cian]

I hope not to go down the satalite/internet route. I give enough money to Murdoch already.

Freesat - 400 TV stations, 150 radio. Not one penny going to Murdoch.

 

[Woodchip]

It would be great is someone done an Internet Radio for seperates systems (classic boxy style, not squishy shapes like the Pinnacle). Probably have to wait a few years for that though.